title: Truffles contain endocannabinoid metabolic enzymes and anandamide.
abstract: Truffles are the fruiting body of fungi, members of the Ascomycota phylum endowed with major gastronomic and commercial value. The development and maturation of their reproductive structure are dependent on melanin synthesis. Since anandamide, a prominent member of the endocannabinoid system (ECS), is responsible for melanin synthesis in normal human epidermal melanocytes, we thought that ECS might be present also in truffles. Here, we show the expression, at the transcriptional and translational levels, of most ECS components in the black truffle Tuber melanosporum Vittad. at maturation stage VI. Indeed, by means of molecular biology and immunochemical techniques, we found that truffles contain the major metabolic enzymes of the ECS, while they do not express the most relevant endocannabinoid-binding receptors. In addition, we measured anandamide content in truffles, at different maturation stages (from III to VI), through liquid chromatography-mass spectrometric analysis, whereas the other relevant endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol was below the detection limit. Overall, our unprecedented results suggest that anandamide and ECS metabolic enzymes have evolved earlier than endocannabinoid-binding receptors, and that anandamide might be an ancient attractant to truffle eaters, that are well-equipped with endocannabinoid-binding receptors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pacioni
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy; StemTeCh Group, Chieti, Italy. Electronic address: crapino@unite.it.
authors.forename: Cinzia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rapino
authors.affiliation: Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: Osvaldo
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Zarivi
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy.
authors.forename: Anastasia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Falconi
authors.affiliation: Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leonardi
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy; European Center for Brain Research/IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Battista
authors.affiliation: Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Colafarina
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sergi
authors.affiliation: Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bonfigli
authors.affiliation: Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miranda
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Barsacchi
authors.affiliation: European Center for Brain Research/IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy; Center of Integrated Research, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: m.maccarrone@unicampus.it.
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maccarrone
mesh_terms: D001095:Arachidonic Acids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001203:Ascomycota / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000201:enzymology; D063388:Endocannabinoids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005989:Glycerides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007558:Italy; D015394:Molecular Structure; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D001095:Arachidonic Acids; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D005989:Glycerides; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides; C094503:glyceryl 2-arachidonate; C078814:anandamide
keywords: Endocannabinoids; Evolution; Food intake; Maturation; Reward; Truffle