N-acylethanolamines (NAEs) are bioactive lipid molecules present in animals and plants. N-acylethanolamine-hydrolyzing acid amidase (NAAA), a heterodimeric lysosomal enzyme is able to hydrolyse NAEs to their respective fatty acids (FAs) and ethanolamine (ETA). The NAEs N-arachidonoylethanolamine (anandamide), N-palmitoylethanolamine, and N-oleoylethanolamine possess cannabimimetic activity, anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities, and anorexic activity, respectively. NAAA can mediate their endogenous levels and shows greatest affinity for N-palmitoylethanolamine (Hong et al. 1999, Tsuboi et al. 2005).
Tsuboi, K, Sun, YX, Okamoto, Y, Araki, N, Tonai, T, Ueda, N
Hong, SB, Li, CM, Rhee, HJ, Park, JH, He, X, Levy, B, Yoo, OJ, Schuchman, EH
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