Figure 1.
The endocannabinoids 2-AG and anandamide serve as substrates for metabolism by a complex array of enzymes. MGL catalyzes the hydrolysis of 2-AG into arachidonic acid (AA) and glycerol, whereas FAAH catalyzes hydrolysis of anandamide into arachidonic acid and ethanolamine. COX-2 and other enzymes catalyze metabolism of these same endocannabinoid lipids into various oxygenated compounds. COX-1, cyclooxygenase-1; DAG, diacylglycerol; DGL, diacylglycerol lipase; EA, ethanolamide; EETs, epoxyeicosatetraenoic acids; FAAH, fatty-acid amide hydrolase; G, glycerol ester; HETEs, hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids; NAPE, N-arachidonoyl-phosphatidylethanolamine; NAT, N-acyl-transferase; P450, cytochrome P450; PG, prostaglandins; PGE2, prostaglandin E2; PLC, phospholipase C; PLD, phospholipase D; TX, thromboxanes.