Figure 1. AEA and 2-AG increase gA single channel activity in DOPC bilayers.

(a) Molecular structure of the endocannabinoids N-arachidonylethanolamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG). (b) Schematic representation of nonconductive and conductive states of gA channels. A transition from the nonconductive to the conductive state determines a local deformation of the lipid bilayer. In opposition, the lipid bilayer exerts a disjoining force (F_dis) on the gA channels. The partition of amphiphiles at the lipid/protein hydrophobic interface can alter the lipid bilayer properties and thus the F_dis. (c) gA single channel representative current traces in the absence (top) and in the presence of (bottom) 3 μmol L⁻¹ AEA. Red dashed lines indicate the nonconductive state of gA channels. (d–f) Concentration-dependent effects of AEA on gA channels: appearance frequency (f), open lifetime (τ), and single channel currents (i). Data is shown as mean ± s.e.m. (n = 4). P < 0.05, two-way ANOVA, Bonferroni post test. (g) Effects of 3 μmol L⁻¹ 2-AG on τ and f of gA channels. Data is shown as mean ± s.e.m. (n = 3). P < 0.001, Student’s t-test.