Fig. (2).

A simulation cell containing four molecules of N-arachidonoylethanolamine (anandamide, AEA, 5, Chart 2), in a fully hydrated 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC) bilayer is illustrated here. Spheres represent the DOPC choline group nitrogen and phosphate group phosphorous atoms. The DOPC acyl chains are shown in tube display. Molecules of 5 are contoured at their Van der Waals radii, while water is depicted here in tube display. This figure shows that when 5 adopts an extended conformation in the bilayer, its terminal methyl group is at the center of the bilayer. This figure also shows that 5 is capable of forming more compact shapes while in the bilayer [210].