申请人:IIT - Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia
公开号:US20140163034A1
公开(公告)日:2014-06-12
Nucleic acid and polypeptide sequences corresponding to FLAT, a partly cytosolic variant of the intracellular anandamide-degrading enzyme, fatty acid amide hydrolase-1 (FAAH-1), are provided. FLAT lacks amidase activity but binds the endocannibinoid anandamide and facilitates its transport into cells. A chemical scaffold for the inhibition of anandamide transport is identified. Compositions of the invention prevent anandamide internalization in vitro, interrupt anandamide deactivation in vivo, and cause profound CB
1
cannabinoid receptor-mediated analgesia in a mouse model of inflammatory pain. Accordingly, the invention also provides methods, and pharmaceutical compositions for treating conditions in which the modulation of anandamide transport would be of benefit.