Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 11, 2026
08:49
Mapping the Cellular Distribution of an Optogenetic Protein Using a Light-Stimulation Grid
Published on: January 26, 2024
The N-acylation-phosphodiesterase pathway and cell signalling
H H Schmid1, P C Schmid, V Natarajan
1Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin 55912, USA.
Chemistry and Physics of Lipids
|May 24, 1996
Summary
Long-chain N-acylethanolamines (NAEs) are crucial lipid mediators. The N-acylation-phosphodiesterase pathway is increasingly recognized for synthesizing polyunsaturated NAEs, including anandamide.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Lipid signaling
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Long-chain N-acylethanolamines (NAEs) exhibit diverse biological and pharmacological effects.
- Polyunsaturated NAEs, such as anandamide, bind to cannabinoid receptors, acting as specific lipid mediators in cell signaling.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the biosynthetic pathways of N-acylethanolamines (NAEs).
- To explore the role of the N-acylation-phosphodiesterase pathway in producing various NAEs, including polyunsaturated forms.
Main Methods:
- Enzyme activity assays for NAE synthesis and degradation.
- Analysis of NAE formation via phospholipase D and direct condensation.
- Investigating the N-acylation-phosphodiesterase pathway as a source of NAEs.
Main Results:
- NAEs can be synthesized through phospholipase D hydrolysis or direct condensation of ethanolamine and fatty acids.
- The direct condensation pathway is often the reverse of NAE degradation catalyzed by NAE amidohydrolase.
- Evidence suggests the N-acylation-phosphodiesterase pathway produces saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated NAEs.
Conclusions:
- The N-acylation-phosphodiesterase pathway is a significant source for various NAEs.
- This pathway contributes to the production of polyunsaturated NAEs like anandamide.
- Understanding NAE biosynthesis is key to elucidating their roles in cell signaling and pharmacology.
More Related Videos
06:03Real-Time cAMP Dynamics in Live Cells Using the Fluorescent cAMP Difference Detector In Situ
Published on: March 22, 2024
10:31A Liposome Membrane Permeability Assay for Investigating the Effects of Phosphatidylinositol Phosphate Groups on Membranotropic Action of Venom PLA2
Published on: September 26, 2025
Related Concept Videos
01:24Intracellular Signaling Cascades
Once a ligand binds to a receptor, the signal is transmitted through the membrane and into the cytoplasm. The continuation of a signal in this manner is called signal transduction. Signal transduction only occurs with cell-surface receptors, which cannot interact with most components of the cell, such as DNA. Only internal receptors can interact directly with DNA in the nucleus to initiate protein synthesis. When a ligand binds to its receptor, conformational changes occur that affect the...
01:24Intracellular Signaling Cascades
Once a ligand binds to a receptor, the signal is transmitted through the membrane and into the cytoplasm. The continuation of a signal in this manner is called signal transduction. Signal transduction only occurs with cell-surface receptors, which cannot interact with most components of the cell, such as DNA. Only internal receptors can interact directly with DNA in the nucleus to initiate protein synthesis. When a ligand binds to its receptor, conformational changes occur that affect the...
01:19Interactions Between Signaling Pathways
Signaling cascades usually lack linearity. Multiple pathways interact and regulate one another, allowing cells to integrate and respond to diverse environmental stimuli.
Convergence and divergence, and cross-talk between signaling pathways
Two distinct signaling pathways can converge on a single functional unit, which may either be a single protein or a complex of proteins. The response is either functionally distinct or synergistic between the two pathways but different from the response...
Convergence and divergence, and cross-talk between signaling pathways
Two distinct signaling pathways can converge on a single functional unit, which may either be a single protein or a complex of proteins. The response is either functionally distinct or synergistic between the two pathways but different from the response...
01:15Amplifying Signals via Second Messengers
Many receptor binding ligands are hydrophilic; they do not cross the cell membrane but bind to cell-surface receptors. Thus, their message must be relayed by second messengers present in the cell cytoplasm. There are several second messenger pathways, each with its own way of relaying information. For example, the G protein-coupled receptors can activate both phosphoinositol and cyclic AMP (cAMP) second messenger pathways. The phosphoinositol pathway is active when the receptor induces...
01:22Amplifying Signals via Enzymatic Cascade
When a ligand binds to a cell-surface receptor, the receptor's intracellular domain changes shape, which may either activate its enzyme function or allow its binding to other molecules. The initial signal is amplified by most signal transduction pathways. This means that a single ligand molecule can activate multiple molecules of a downstream target. Proteins that relay a signal are most commonly phosphorylated at one or more sites, activating or inactivating the protein. Kinases catalyze the...
01:11IP3/DAG Signaling Pathway
Membrane lipids such as phosphatidylinositol (PI) are precursors for several membrane-bound and soluble second messengers. Specific kinases phosphorylate PI and produce phosphorylated inositol phospholipids. One such inositol phospholipids are the phosphatidylinositol-4,5 bisphosphate [PI(4,5)P2], present in the inner half of the lipid bilayer. Upon ligand binding, GPCR stimulates Gq proteins to turn on phospholipase Cꞵ. Activated phospholipase Cꞵ cleaves PI(4,5)P2 and produces two-second...