Work

N-Acyl Amino Acids: Metabolism, Molecular Targets, and Role in Biological Processes

Year: 2019

Type: article

Abstract: The lipid signal is becoming increasingly crowded as increasingly fatty acid amide derivatives are being identified and considered relevant therapeutic targets. The identification of N-arachidonoyl-ethanolamine as endogenous ligand of cannabinoid type-1 and type-2 receptors as well as the development of different–omics technologies have the merit to have led to the discovery of a huge number of naturally occurring N-acyl-amines. Among those mediators, N-acyl amino acids, chemically related to the endocannabinoids and belonging to the complex lipid signaling system now known as endocannabinoidome, have been rapidly growing for their therapeutic potential. Here, we review the current knowledge of the mechanisms for the biosynthesis and inactivation of the N-acyl amino acids, as well as the various molecular targets for some of the N-acyl amino acids described so far.

Source: Biomolecules

DOI: 10.3390/biom9120822

Authors: Natalia Battista, Monica Bari, Tiziana Bisogno

Institutions: University of Teramo, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Istituto di Farmacologia Traslazionale, National Research Council

Language: English

Topic: Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research

Subfield: Pharmacology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,216