Endocannabinoids and Their Synthetic Analogs

Abstract

t The discovery of endogenous cannabinoids has provided a basis for understanding the structural requirements for activation of the two known cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2. The endocannabinoids are fatty acid analogs represented by N-arachidonoylethanolamine (anandamide, AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG). These endogenous ligands are biosynthesized and deactivated by a number of enzymes and a transporter system, all of which can be modulated by ligands whose structures can encompassthe essential endocannabinoid features. For this reason a significant amount of work has sought to develop synthetic ligands structurally related to AEA and 2-AG. These ligands are being used to explore the structural features of the different cannabinergic proteins and have also proven to be valuable pharmacological tools for studying the physiology and biochemistry of the endocannabinoid system