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. 2006 Jun 16;8(2):E409–E412. doi: 10.1007/BF02854913

2-Arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) membrane transport: History and outlook

Anita Hermann 1, Martin Kaczocha 1, Dale G Deutsch 1,✉
PMCID: PMC3231572  PMID: 16808043

Abstract

Only a few studies have addressed the transport of 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), a naturally occurring agonist for cannabinoid receptors. Based upon saturation kinetics, these early reports have proposed that 2-AG enters the cell by a specific 2-AG transporter, via the putative anandamide transporter, or by simple diffusion. In this review, the uptake of 2-AG is discussed in light of the recent advances that have been made for anandamide transport, where the mechanism appears to be rate-limited diffusion through the membrane. Endocannabinoids may be a distinct class of agonists since they are hydrophobic and neutral, exhibiting similar biophysical properties to some anesthetics that freely diffuse through the membrane.

Keywords: anandamide, 2-AG, 2-arachidonoylglycerol, cannabinoids, endocannabinoid, transport

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