title: Disulfiram is an inhibitor of human purified monoacylglycerol lipase, the enzyme regulating 2-arachidonoylglycerol signaling.
abstract: Monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) is a key enzyme responsible for the termination of endocannabinoid signaling. Its crucial role in 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) metabolism, together with the numerous pharmacological properties mediated by this endocannabinoid, emphasize the interest in MAGL as therapeutic target, along with the need to design potent and selective inhibitors. Meanwhile, the complexity of 2-AG degradation pathways underscores the need to use a purified source of enzyme in evaluation studies of new inhibitors. We report here the first heterologous expression and purification of human MAGL. A highly pure protein was obtained and allowed us to measure the affinity of several MAGL inhibitors for the human enzyme. Importantly, disulfiram (tetraethylthiuram disulfide), a compound used to treat alcoholism, and other disulfide-containing compounds were shown to inhibit MAGL with good potency, likely through an interaction with cysteine residues.
authors.affiliation: Unité de Chimie pharmaceutique et de Radiopharmacie, Ecole de Pharmacie, Faculté de Médecine, Université catholique de Louvain, Avenue E. Mounier 73.40 1200 Bruxelles, Belgium.
authors.forename: Geoffray
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Labar
authors.forename: Cédric
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bauvois
authors.forename: Giulio G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Muccioli
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wouters
authors.forename: Didier M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Lambert
mesh_terms: D001095:Arachidonic Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D004221:Disulfiram / Q000494:pharmacology*; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D005989:Glycerides / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D015394:Molecular Structure; D008994:Monoacylglycerol Lipases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D001095:Arachidonic Acids; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D005989:Glycerides; C094503:glyceryl 2-arachidonate; D008994:Monoacylglycerol Lipases; D004221:Disulfiram