The endogenous cannabinoids and their attending G protein-coupled receptors are components of a neuromodulatory system that regulates multiple brain functions, including pain and reward. The endocannabinoid anandamide is released from neurons upon demand and undergoes a rapid deactivation process that is thought to involve two sequential steps: carrier-mediated transport into cells and intracellular hydrolysis by fatty acid amide hydrolase-1 (FAAH-1) and FAAH-2. The main objective of the present application is to address two key aspects of anandamide deactivation, which remain incompletely understood: (i) the mechanism and significance of anandamide transport; and (ii) the roles of FAAH-mediated anandamide hydrolysis outside the central nervous system (CNS). In previous studies, funded by this grant, we developed the first brain-impermeant FAAH inhibitor and showed that this O-aryl carbamate derivative (termed URB937) suppresses acute and chronic pain-related responses in rodents by enhancing the intrinsic activity of anandamide at CB1-type cannabinoid receptors located outside the CNS. Furthermore, we molecularly cloned a catalytically defective variant of FAAH-1 (termed FAAH-Like Anandamide Transporter, FLAT) that lacks amidase activity, but selectively binds to anandamide and facilitates the transport of this compound into cells. Finally, we discovered a ligand (ARN272) that inhibits anandamide binding to FLAT, blocks anandamide transport in vitro and interrupts anandamide deactivation in vivo. The present proposal has two primary aims.
Aim 1 : To define pharmacophore profiles for peripheral FAAH inhibition and identify new brain-impermeant FAAH inhibitors. We will synthesize analogs of URB937 to (i) determine structure-activity relationships for peripheral segregation within the O-aryl carbamate chemotype; and (ii) identify new brain-impermeant FAAH inhibitors, which may be utilized both to investigate the functions of peripheral FAAH and as prototypes for analgesic agents devoid of central side effects.
Aim 2 : To characterize the role of FLAT in neuronal anandamide transport and discover potent and selective FLAT inhibitors. We will perform three sets of studies: (a) we will conduct computational and mutational analyses aimed at exploring the molecular mechanism(s) through which substrates (such as anandamide) and inhibitors (such as ARN272) interact with FLAT; (b) we will investigate the mechanism through which FLAT mediates anandamide transport; and (c) we will use the scaffold of ARN272 to create novel FLAT ligands that may serve as tools to investigate the functions of FLAT in anandamide transport. These studies are likely to generate new molecular tools that will help elucidate the mechanism of anandamide deactivation and may lead to the discovery of new drug candidates for pain, substance abuse and other human diseases.

Public Health Relevance

The human body produces marijuana-like molecules, called endocannabinoids, which are involved in the regulation of pain, mood, memory and addiction. We propose to create potent and selective chemical probes that will allow researchers to investigate how brain cells stop the actions of the endocannabinoids. These chemicals may not only be useful as experimental tools, but might also help us discover innovative therapies to treat drug abuse, pain and other diseases.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
3R01DA012413-14S1
Application #
9271416
Study Section
Molecular Neuropharmacology and Signaling Study Section (MNPS)
Program Officer
Rapaka, Rao
Project Start
1998-08-14
Project End
2016-06-30
Budget Start
2015-07-01
Budget End
2016-06-30
Support Year
14
Fiscal Year
2016
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of California Irvine
Department
Anatomy/Cell Biology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
046705849
City
Irvine
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
92617
Schoch, H; Huerta, M Y; Ruiz, C M et al. (2018) Adolescent cannabinoid exposure effects on natural reward seeking and learning in rats. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 235:121-134
Wang, W; Cox, B M; Jia, Y et al. (2018) Treating a novel plasticity defect rescues episodic memory in Fragile X model mice. Mol Psychiatry 23:1798-1806
Castellani, Beatrice; Diamanti, Eleonora; Pizzirani, Daniela et al. (2017) Synthesis and characterization of the first inhibitor of N-acylphosphatidylethanolamine phospholipase D (NAPE-PLD). Chem Commun (Camb) 53:12814-12817
Wei, Don; Allsop, Stephen; Tye, Kay et al. (2017) Endocannabinoid Signaling in the Control of Social Behavior. Trends Neurosci 40:385-396
Khurana, Leepakshi; Mackie, Ken; Piomelli, Daniele et al. (2017) Modulation of CB1 cannabinoid receptor by allosteric ligands: Pharmacology and therapeutic opportunities. Neuropharmacology 124:3-12
Rock, Erin M; Moreno-Sanz, Guillermo; Limebeer, Cheryl L et al. (2017) Suppression of acute and anticipatory nausea by peripherally restricted fatty acid amide hydrolase inhibitor in animal models: role of PPAR? and CB1 receptors. Br J Pharmacol 174:3837-3847
Angelini, Roberto; Argueta, Donovan A; Piomelli, Daniele et al. (2017) Identification of a Widespread Palmitoylethanolamide Contamination in Standard Laboratory Glassware. Cannabis Cannabinoid Res 2:123-132
Wei, Don; Lee, DaYeon; Li, Dandan et al. (2016) A role for the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoyl-sn-glycerol for social and high-fat food reward in male mice. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 233:1911-9
Scarpelli, Rita; Sasso, Oscar; Piomelli, Daniele (2016) A Double Whammy: Targeting Both Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase (FAAH) and Cyclooxygenase (COX) To Treat Pain and Inflammation. ChemMedChem 11:1242-51
Migliore Dr, Marco; Pontis Dr, Silvia; Fuentes de Arriba, Angel Luis et al. (2016) Second-Generation Non-Covalent NAAA Inhibitors are Protective in a Model of Multiple Sclerosis. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 55:11193-11197

Showing the most recent 10 out of 81 publications