title: Cell signaling by endocannabinoids and their congeners: questions of selectivity and other challenges.
abstract: The major endocannabinoids, anandamide (N-arachidonoylethanolamide, 20:4n-6 N-acylethanolamine) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) are structurally and functionally similar, but they are produced by different metabolic pathways and their levels must therefore be regulated by different mechanisms. Both endocannabinoids are accompanied by cannabinoid receptor-inactive, saturated and mono- or di-unsaturated congeners which can influence their metabolism and function. Here we review published data on the presence and production of anandamide and 2-AG and their congeners in mammalian cells and discuss this information in terms of their proposed signaling functions.
authors.affiliation: The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, 801-16th Avenue N E, Austin, MN 55912, USA. hoschmid@smig.net
authors.forename: Harald H O
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Schmid
authors.forename: Patricia C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Schmid
authors.forename: Evgueni V
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Berdyshev
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001095:Arachidonic Acids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D001692:Biological Transport; D063385:Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators; D002186:Cannabinoids / Q000378:metabolism; D002460:Cell Line; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D005989:Glycerides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides; D043882:Receptors, Cannabinoid; D011955:Receptors, Drug / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D001095:Arachidonic Acids; D063385:Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators; D002186:Cannabinoids; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D005989:Glycerides; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides; D043882:Receptors, Cannabinoid; D011955:Receptors, Drug; C094503:glyceryl 2-arachidonate; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases; C078814:anandamide