Sandbox Reserved 921: Difference between revisions

[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatty_acid_amide_hydrolase Fatty acid amide hydrolase] (FAAH) is the primary catabolic enzyme for the degradation of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatty_acid_amide fatty acid amides].  FAAH is most commonly known for the degradation of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anandamide anandamide], which is an endocannabinoid that activates the CB1 and CB2 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabinoid_receptor cannabinoid receptors].  When CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors are active the receptors affect appetite, sleep, and relief of pain.  The ability to inhibit FAAH has been widely investigated for possible pain relief medication.  A recent study on FAAH inhibitors combined an irreversible bond at Cys269 and a reversible bond at Ser241 of the active site.<ref name="Most Recent Study">PMID:23581831</ref>  A humanized rat variant of FAAH was inhibited and the mice displayed an increase in endogenous brain levels of FAAH substrates for over six hours.  This is the first step towards developing a long lasting pain relief medication by inhibiting FAAH.  

The <scene name='57/573136/Starting_view/1'>surface</scene> of FAAH reveals two openings directly accessible by the inner layer of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lipid_bilayer lipid bilayer].  These <scene name='57/573136/Membrane_access_channel/4'>membrane access channels</scene> (MAC) are each proceed by a respective membrane binding cap.  This sturdy flap appears to be loosened by the presence of five positively charged residues, and each MAC remains conformation-stable by a salt bridge.  The membrane access channel leads to the active site, which is flanked by both the <scene name='57/573136/Cytosolic_port/2'>acyl chain binding pocket and cytosolic port </scene> (ABP and CP).  The cytosolic port is a lengthy, flexible loop that leads directly into the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cytoplasm cytoplasm], allowing the deacylated amine to enter the cell.