Posted on 04/20/2010 12:29:38 AM PDT by neverdem
US scientists have demonstrated the existence of undiscovered chemical pathways to an important class of bioactive lipids in the nervous system.
Endocannabinoids are lipid messengers that play a key role in both central and peripheral tissues, where they participate in diverse physiological processes including appetite, pain-sensation, mood, and memory. Unlike other neurotransmitters such as amino acids and neuropeptides, they are not water soluble so cannot be stored in the body and are made on-demand from phospholipid precursors involving complex multiple pathways. A complete understanding of these mechanisms is crucial to understanding their effects in mammalian physiology, explains Benjamin Cravatt and Gabriel Simon at the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla.
In vitro studies have suggested a number of pathways to make N-acyl-ethanolamines (NAEs), a key endocannabionid lipid as alternatives to the well known conversion of N-acyl phosphatidyl entanolamine (NAPE) by reaction with phosphodiesterase enzymes known as NAPE-PLD and GDE-1. Now, Cravatt and Simon have demonstrated the existence of other pathways using additional enzymes in an in vivo study.
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Endocannabinoids are made in the body via a number of complex pathways
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By studying mice deficient in the enzymes GDE1 and NAPE-PLD, the pair discovered that although there were significant reductions in NAPE to NAE conversion by the known pathways, there was no overall change in NAE levels in the mice brain tissue. 'This result supports the existence of additional NAPE-catabolising enzymes that are operant in situ, and likely in vivo,' explains Cravatt.
Edward Tate, an expert in enzymology and chemical genetics at Imperial College London, UK comments that the move from in vitro to in vivo models is an interesting step to take. 'This work provides another piece in the puzzle of in vivo NAPE/NAE biochemistry and has given a strong indication of where to start looking for the next one,' he adds.
The researchers say that their next step will be to investigate whether alternative pathways for NAE that do not involve NAPE as the required precursor exist.
Characterization of mice lacking candidate N-acyl ethanolamine biosynthetic enzymes provides evidence for multiple pathways that contribute to endocannabinoid production in vivo
Gabriel M. Simon and Benjamin F. Cravatt, Mol. BioSyst., 2010
DOI: 10.1039/c000237b
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The abstract links the complete article.
How about heroin receptors?
Actually, I believe Breast Milk has substances that are recognized by the same receptors.
There will be no end-o-cannabinoids around here. lol
Dude!
Obesity gene, carried by more than a third of the U.S. population, leads to brain tissue loss
JNC 7 Blood Pressure Targets Challenged
FReepmail me if you want on or off my health and science ping list.
bflr
So you want marijuana AND heroin legalized? Trippy.
“Obesity gene, carried by more than a third of the U.S. population, leads to brain tissue loss”
Now HERE we have some undisputed science !
Who mentioned heroin? Thanks for the unwarranted assumption and the ad hominem. Conservatives usually do better than that.
I'd end the war on some drugs for the bogus rationalizations of the harm done to society, and that it's for the children. I'd make at least some raw drugs as found in nature legal. Drugs based on opium, i.e. heroin, are already legally prescribed. Intravenous drug abuse spreads too many lethal diseases.
The gateway theory that marijuana use leads to later hard drug abuse has been debunked.
The costs of the war on some drugs outweigh its benefits. It helps to promote the war on guns, fuels organized crimes and police corruption as well as causes an unending, needless list of innocents to get killed by overzealous cops whether working on lame information or addresses.
Conservatives usually understand that you can't change human nature, unlike the utopians.
You did when you responded that "endorphins" bind to the same receptors.
And the receptor argument is the same one you used to argue for legalizing marijuana.
I'd end the war on some drugs
Yep. That a major goal of the left.
You did when you responded that "endorphins" bind to the same receptors.
Check comment# 2. You asked, "How about heroin receptors?"
The usual term is opiate receptors that bind enkephalins as well as endorphins.
Yep. That a major goal of the left.
George Schulz(sp?), former Secretary of State for Reagan, and Bill Buckley, some really big lefties, I guess.
And you answered with the assertion that "endorphins" bind to the same receptors. The same non sequitur that you offered as a reason for legalizing marijuana.
George Schulz(sp?)
George Shultz held that states were free to either enact or reject medical marijuana laws, as they chose.
Bill Buckley
When did Buckley advocate legalizing all drugs?
You mentioned heroin first in the context of "heroin receptors." I fail to see how it is a non sequitur. The opiate receptors are used for legal analgesia, aka pain relief. Why shouldn't the receptors of endocannabinoid system be used when using legal opiates is very problematic from severe constipation to fatal respiratory arrest?
Targeting CB2 receptors and the endocannabinoid system for the treatment of pain
George Shultz held that states were free to either enact or reject medical marijuana laws, as they chose.
Searching "George Shultz" legalize marijuana I only could find this second hand quote on Yahoo and Google:
From searching at the Wall Street Journal, it appears that nonsubscribers can only search back to two years.
When did Buckley advocate legalizing all drugs?
He didn't. I wrote: "I'd make at least some raw drugs as found in nature legal." I'd limit it to marijuana, raw opium and coca leaf for selling in gov't regulated sources to adults.
As it is now, the utopian and endless war on some drugs is helping to fund the Taliban, the FARC in Columbia and causing refugees from the Mexican drug cartes to get asylum in the USA.
Because of all this foolery, I have to worry about being sued for not prescribing adequate analgesia by being too stingy writing scripts on the malpractice side, and I have too worry about being prosecuted by the unpredictable DEA for being too generous with controlled drugs.
Adios
So?
I fail to see how it is a non sequitur.
*If a drug interacts with receptors it must be legalized* is one of the most spurious non sequiturs I've even seen.
“Frankly,” Shultz continued, “the only way I can think of to accomplish this is to make it possible for addicts to buy drugs at some regulated place at a price that approximates their cost. We need to consider and examine forms of controlled legalization of drugs.”
Consider? Examine? That seems to fall short of a call for ending all drug laws. Regulated? Controlled? In fact, that description sounds like continuing federal control of drugs to me. With a dollop of taxpayer subsidies. I can see why you would like that last part.
I wrote: "I'd make at least some raw drugs as found in nature legal."
I thought you called for ending the "war on some drugs." I guess you really didn't mean what you said.
Not all drugs.
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