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Updated: Jul 12, 2026
11:01
Preparation and In Vivo Use of an Activity-based Probe for N-acylethanolamine Acid Amidase
Published on: November 23, 2016
Structure and function of fatty acid amide hydrolase.
Michele K McKinney1, Benjamin F Cravatt
1Departments of Cell Biology and Chemistry, The Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California 92037, USA. michele@scripps.edu
Annual Review of Biochemistry
|June 15, 2005
Summary
Fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) degrades signaling lipids like anandamide. This review explores FAAH
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) is a key mammalian enzyme.
- It degrades endogenous signaling lipids, including anandamide and oleamide.
- FAAH is part of the amidase signature (AS) enzyme family.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the structure and function of FAAH.
- To explore molecular models of FAAH membrane integration and function.
- To discuss the biological and therapeutic implications of FAAH research.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of FAAH and related AS enzymes.
- Analysis of structural and functional studies.
- Integration of complementary research findings.
Main Results:
- Provocative molecular models for FAAH membrane integration.
- Insights into the termination of fatty acid amide signaling.
- Understanding of FAAH's role within the AS enzyme family.
Conclusions:
- FAAH plays a crucial role in lipid signaling.
- Understanding FAAH structure and function has significant biological implications.
- FAAH represents a potential therapeutic target.
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