Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UNIPROT:P21554 (cannabinoid receptor)
 3,582 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The human cannabinoid receptors, central cannabinoid receptor (CB1) and peripheral cannabinoid receptor (CB2), share only 44% amino acid identity overall, yet most ligands do not discriminate between receptor subtypes. Site-directed mutagenesis was employed as a means of mapping the ligand recognition site for the human CB2 cannabinoid receptor. A lysine residue in the third transmembrane domain of the CB2 receptor (K109), which is conserved between the CB1 and CB2 receptors, was mutated to alanine or arginine to determine the role of this charged amino acid in receptor function. The analogous mutation in the CB1 receptor (K192A) was found to be crucial for recognition of several cannabinoid compounds excluding (R)-(+)-[2, 3-dihydro-5-methyl-3-[(4-morpholinyl)methyl]pyrrolo[1,2,3-de]-1, 4-benzoxazin-6-yl](1-naphthalenyl)methanone (WIN 55,212-2). In contrast, in human embryonic kidney (HEK)-293 cells expressing the mutant or wild-type CB2 receptors, we found no significant differences in either the binding profile of several cannabinoid ligands nor in inhibition of cAMP accumulation. We identified a high-affinity site for (-)-3-[2-hydroxyl-4-(1, 1-dimethylheptyl)phenyl]-4-[3-hydroxyl propyl] cyclohexan-1-ol (CP-55,940) in the region of helices 3, 6, and 7, with S3.31(112), T3.35(116), and N7.49(295) in the K109A mutant using molecular modeling. The serine residue, unique to the CB2 receptor, was then mutated to glycine in the K109A mutant. This double mutant, K109AS112G, retains the ability to bind aminoalkylindoles but loses affinity for classical cannabinoids, as predicted by the molecular model. Distinct cellular localization of the mutant receptors observed with immunofluorescence also suggests differences in receptor function. In summary, we identified amino acid residues in the CB2 receptor that could lead to subtype specificity.
Mol Pharmacol 1999 Mar
PMID:Role of a conserved lysine residue in the peripheral cannabinoid receptor (CB2): evidence for subtype specificity. 1005 46

The inhibition of motor behavior in rodents caused by the exposure to plant or synthetic cannabinoids has been reported to develop tolerance after repeated exposure. This tolerance seems to have a pharmacodynamic basis, since downregulation of cannabinoid receptors in motor areas, basal ganglia and cerebellum, has been demonstrated in cannabinoid-tolerant rats. The present study was designed to further explore this previous evidence by analyzing simultaneously in several motor areas of delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol- (delta 9-THC)-tolerant rats: 1. Cannabinoid receptor binding, by using [3H]WIN-55,212-2 autoradiography; 2. Cannabinoid receptor activation of signal transduction mechanisms, by using WIN-55,212-2-stimulated [35S]-guanylyl-5'-O-(gamma-thio)-triphosphate ([35S]-GTP gamma S) autoradiography; 3. Cannabinoid receptor mRNA expression, quantitated by in situ hybridization. Results were as follows. As expected, the exposure to delta 9-THC for 5 d resulted in a decrease of cannabinoid receptor binding in the molecular layer of the cerebellum, medial, and lateral caudate-putamen and, in particular, entopeduncular nucleus. We also found decreased cannabinoid receptor binding in the superficial and deep layers of the cerebral cortex, two regions used as a reference to test the specificity of changes observed in motor areas. There were only two brain regions, the globus pallidus and the substantia nigra, where the specific binding for cannabinoid receptors was unaltered after 5 d of a daily delta 9-THC administration. However, in the substantia nigra, the magnitude of WIN-55,212-2-stimulated [35S]-GTP gamma S binding was lesser in delta 9-THC-tolerant rats than controls, thus suggesting a possible specific change at the level of receptor coupling to GTP-binding proteins. This was not seen neither in the globus pallidus nor in the lateral caudate-putamen, where agonist stimulation produced similar [35S]-GTP gamma S binding levels in delta 9-THC-tolerant rats and controls. Finally, animals chronically exposed to delta 9-THC also exhibited a decrease in the levels of cannabinoid receptor mRNA in the medial and lateral caudate-putamen, but there were no changes in the cerebellum (granular layer) and cerebral cortex. In summary, the chronic exposure to delta 9-THC resulted in a decrease in cannabinoid receptor binding and mRNA levels in the caudate-putamen, where cell bodies of cannabinoid receptor-containing neurons in the basal ganglia are located. However, this decrease particularly affected the receptor binding levels in those neurons projecting to the entopeduncular nucleus, but not in those projecting to the globus pallidus and substantia nigra, although, in this last region, a specific decrease in the efficiency of receptor activation of signal transduction mechanisms was seen in delta 9-THC-tolerant rats. The chronic exposure to delta 9-THC also resulted in decreased cannabinoid receptor binding in the cerebellum, although without affecting mRNA expression.
J Mol Neurosci 1998 Oct
PMID:Cannabinoid receptor and WIN-55,212-2-stimulated [35S]GTP gamma S binding and cannabinoid receptor mRNA levels in the basal ganglia and the cerebellum of adult male rats chronically exposed to delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol. 1009 37

The purpose of the present study was to examine the time-related effects of repeated administration of Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol during 1, 3, 7 and 14 days on cannabinoid and mu-opioid receptor agonist-stimulated [35S]GTPgammaS binding, and CB1 cannabinoid receptor and proenkephalin gene expression in the caudate-putamen. Repeated administration with Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol produced a time-related reduction in cannabinoid receptor synthesis and activation of signal transduction mechanisms in the caudate-putamen. Indeed, WIN-55,212-2-stimulated [35S]GTPgammaS binding decreased 24% on day 1 and then progressively decreased finding a 42% decrease on day 14. Similarly, CB1 cannabinoid receptor mRNA levels decreased (22%) on day 3, reaching 50% reduction on day 7. In contrast, a pronounced increase is detected in DAMGO-stimulated [35S]GTPgammaS binding and proenkephalin mRNA levels in the caudate-putamen. The highest degree of increase was reached on day 7 of the treatment (35% of proenkephalin mRNA levels and 62% of DAMGO-stimulated [35S]GTPgammaS binding) and then values slightly decreased on day 14. Taken together, the results of the present study indicate that, in the caudate-putamen, repeated administration with Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol produces a time-related increase in proenkephalin gene expression and mu-opioid receptor activation of G-proteins, and a time-related decrease in CB1 cannabinoid receptor gene expression and reduction in CB1 cannabinoid receptor activation of G-proteins. These results also suggest a possible interaction between the cannabinoid and opioid systems in the caudate-putamen which may be potentially relevant in the understanding of the alterations of motor behavior that occur after prolonged exposure to cannabinoids.
Brain Res Mol Brain Res 1999 Apr 06
PMID:Time-dependent differences of repeated administration with Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol in proenkephalin and cannabinoid receptor gene expression and G-protein activation by mu-opioid and CB1-cannabinoid receptors in the caudate-putamen. 1010 Dec 41

The central cannabinoid receptor (CB1) mediates the pharmacological activities of cannabis, the endogenous agonist anandamide and several synthetic agonists. The cloning of the human cannabinoid receptor (CNR1) gene facilitates molecular genetic studies in disorders like Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (GTS), obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), Parkinsons disease, Alzheimers disease or other neuro psychiatric or neurological diseases, which may be predisposed or influenced by mutations or variants in the CNR1 gene. We detected a frequent silent mutation (1359G-->A) in codon 453 (Thr) of the CNR1 gene that turned out to be a common polymorphism in the German population. Allele frequencies of this polymorphism are 0.76 and 0.24, respectively. We developed a simple and rapid polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based assay by artificial creation of a Msp I restriction site in amplified wild-type DNA (G-allele), which is destroyed by the silent mutation (A-allele). The intragenic CNR1 polymorphism 1359(G/A) should be useful for association studies in neuro psychiatric disorders which may be related to anandamide metabolism disturbances.
Mol Cell Probes 1999 Aug
PMID:A frequent polymorphism in the coding exon of the human cannabinoid receptor (CNR1) gene. 1044 Dec 6

Under reducing conditions of SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, the CB(1) receptor exists in its monomeric form as well as in an SDS-resistant high molecular weight form that appears to be devoid of G proteins. The CB(1) cannabinoid receptor was immunoprecipitated from 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]propanesulfonate-solubilized rat brain membranes using an antibody against the CB(1) receptor N terminus. The CB(1) receptor was coimmunoprecipitated with its associated G proteins, specifically those of the Galpha(i/o) family, but not Galpha(s), Galpha(q), or Galpha(z). The CB(1) receptor-Galpha(i/o) complex existed in the absence of exogenous agonists, and the cannabinoid receptor agonist desacetyllevonantradol failed to alter the stoichiometry of the receptor-Galpha(i/o) interaction. Guanosine-5'-O-(3-thio)triphosphate could disrupt the interaction. A peptide derived from the CB(1) receptor juxtamembrane C-terminal domain, peptide CB(1)401-417, autonomously activates G(i/o) proteins. Peptide CB(1)401-417 competitively disrupted the CB(1) receptor association with Galpha(o) and Galpha(i3) but not Galpha(i1) or Galpha(i2). This G protein specificity was also observed in detergent extracts from membranes of the frontal cortex, striatum, and cerebellum. Alternative peptides, including peptides from the CB(1) receptor third intracellular loop and the G protein activating peptide mastoparan-7, failed to promote uncoupling from Galpha(o). A CB(2) receptor juxtamembrane C-terminal peptide failed to disrupt the CB(1) receptor-Galpha(o) complex. These studies illustrate that the CB(1) receptor can exist as an SDS-resistant multimer. In 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]propanesulfonate detergent, the CB(1) receptor exists in a complex with G proteins of the G(i/o) family in the absence of exogenous agonists. Furthermore, this study provides the first description of domain specificity for interaction with a selective set of G proteins.
Mol Pharmacol 2000 Jan
PMID:The CB(1) cannabinoid receptor juxtamembrane C-terminal peptide confers activation to specific G proteins in brain. 1061 91

The midbrain periaqueductal gray (PAG) is a major site of cannabinoid-mediated analgesia in the central nervous system. In the present study, we examined the actions of cannabinoids on rat PAG neurons in vitro. In brain slices, superfusion of the cannabinoid receptor agonist WIN55,212-2 inhibited electrically evoked inhibitory and excitatory postsynaptic currents in all PAG neurons. The endogenous cannabinoid anandamide inhibited evoked inhibitory postsynaptic currents in the presence of the anandamide transport inhibitor AM404, but not in its absence. The stable anandamide analog R1-methanandamide also inhibited evoked inhibitory postsynaptic currents. WIN55,212-2 reduced the rate of spontaneous miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents in normal and Ca(2+)-free solutions, but had no effect on their amplitude distributions or kinetics. The WIN55,212-2-induced decrease in miniature inhibitory postsynaptic current rate was concentration dependent (EC(50) = 520 nM). The effects of cannabinoids were reversed by the CB(1) receptor antagonist SR141716. WIN55,212-2 produced no change in membrane current or conductance in PAG neurons in brain slices and had no effect on Ca(2+)-channel currents in acutely isolated PAG neurons. These findings suggest that cannabinoids act via CB(1) receptors to inhibit GABAergic and glutamatergic synaptic transmission in rat PAG, although the efficacy of endogenous cannabinoids is likely to be limited by uptake and breakdown. Like mu-opioids, cannabinoids act to reduce the probability of transmitter release from presynaptic terminals via a Ca(2+)-independent mechanism. In contrast to mu-opioids, cannabinoids have no direct postsynaptic actions on PAG neurons. Thus, cannabinoids and mu-opioids are likely to produce analgesia within PAG in part by different mechanisms.
Mol Pharmacol 2000 Feb
PMID:Actions of cannabinoids on membrane properties and synaptic transmission in rat periaqueductal gray neurons in vitro. 1064 38

Loss of memory and cholinergic transmission are associated with both Alzheimer's disease (AD) and marijuana use. The human brain muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR), which is involved in memory function and is inhibited by arachidonic acid, is also inhibited by anandamides. Two agonists of the cannabinoid receptor derived from arachidonic acid, anandamide (AEA) and R-methanandamide, inhibit ligand binding to the mAChR. Binding of the mAChR antagonist [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate ([3H]QNB) is inhibited up to 89% by AEA (half-maximal inhibition at 50 microM). Binding of the more polar antagonist [N-methyl-3H]scopolamine ([3H]NMS) is inhibited by AEA up to 76% (half-maximal inhibition at 44 microM). R-methanandamide inhibits more than 90% of both [3H]QNB binding (I50 = 34 microM) and [3H]NMS binding (I50 = 15 microM) to the mAChR. Both AEA and R-methanandamide stimulate mAChR binding of the agonist [3H]oxotremorine-M at low concentrations (25-75 microM), but significantly inhibit agonist binding at higher concentrations (I50 = 150 microM). The cannabinoid antagonist SR141716A did not alter AEA or R-methanandamide inhibition of [3H]NMS binding to the mAChR, even at concentrations as high as 1 microM. Further, the cannabinoid agonist WIN 55212-2 does not alter antagonist binding to the mAChR. This demonstrates that mAChR inhibition by the anandamides is not mediated by the cannabinoid receptor. Since AEA and R-methanandamide are structurally similar to arachidonic acid, they may interact with the mAChR in a similar manner to inhibit receptor function.
J Mol Neurosci
PMID:Anandamides inhibit binding to the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor. 1069 Dec 92

Many types of cells exhibit increased adenylyl cyclase (AC) activity after chronic agonist treatment of G(i/o)-coupled receptors. This phenomenon, defined as AC superactivation or sensitization, has mostly been studied for the opioid receptors and is implicated in opiate addiction. Here we show that this phenomenon is also observed on chronic activation of the CB(1) cannabinoid receptor. Moreover, using COS-7 cells cotransfected with CB(1) receptor and individual AC isozymes, we could show selective superactivation of AC types I, III, V, VI, and VIII. The level of superactivation was dependent on the concentration of agonist and time of agonist exposure and was not dependent on the AC stimulator used. No superactivation of AC types II, IV, or VII was observed in COS-7 cells cotransfected with CB(1). The superactivation of AC type V was abolished by pretreatment with pertussis toxin and by cotransfection with the carboxy terminus of beta-adrenergic receptor kinase, which serves as a scavenger of G(betagamma) dimers, implying a role for the G(i/o) proteins and especially G(betagamma) dimers in the cannabinoid-induced superactivation of AC.
Mol Pharmacol 2000 Apr
PMID:Differential superactivation of adenylyl cyclase isozymes after chronic activation of the CB(1) cannabinoid receptor. 1072 21

While evidence implicates the endogenous cannabinoid system as a novel analgesic target at a spinal level, detailed analysis of the distribution of the cannabinoid receptor CB(1) in spinal cord has not been reported. Here, immunocytochemical studies were used to characterize the CB(1) receptor expression in rat spinal cord. Staining was found in the dorsolateral funiculus, the superficial dorsal horn (a double band of CB(1) immunoreactivity (ir) in laminae I and II inner/III transition), and lamina X. Although CB(1)-ir was present in the same laminae as primary afferent nociceptor markers, there was limited colocalization at an axonal level. Interruption of both primary afferent input by dorsal root rhizotomy and descending input by rostral spinal cord hemisection produced minor changes in CB(1)-ir. This and colocalization of CB(1)-ir with interneurons expressing protein kinase C subunit gamma-ir suggest that the majority of CB(1) expression is on spinal interneurons. These data provide a framework and implicate novel analgesic mechanisms for spinal actions of cannabinoids at the CB(1) receptor.
Mol Cell Neurosci 2000 Jun
PMID:Cannabinoid CB(1) receptor expression in rat spinal cord. 1086 May 78

Cannabinoids exert most of their effects through the CB(1) receptor. This G-protein-coupled receptor has been shown to be functionally coupled to inhibition of adenylyl cyclase, modulation of ion channels, and activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase. Using Chinese hamster ovary cells stably transfected with the CB(1) receptor cDNA, we show here that Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the major active component of marijuana, induces the activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). Western blot analysis showed that both JNK-1 and JNK-2 were stimulated by THC. The effect of THC was also exerted by endogenous cannabinoids (anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol) and synthetic cannabinoids (CP-55,940, HU-210, and methanandamide), and was prevented by the selective CB(1) antagonist SR141716. Pertussis toxin, wortmannin, and a Ras farnesyltransferase inhibitor peptide blocked, whereas mastoparan mimicked, the CB(1) receptor-evoked activation of JNK, supporting the involvement of a G(i)/G(o)-protein, phosphoinositide 3'-kinase and Ras. THC-induced JNK stimulation was prevented by tyrphostin AG1296, pointing to the implication of platelet-derived growth factor receptor transactivation, and was independent of ceramide generation. Experiments performed with several types of neural cells that endogenously express the CB(1) receptor suggested that long-term JNK activation may be involved in THC-induced cell death. The CB(1) cannabinoid receptor was also shown to be coupled to the activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase. Data indicate that activation of JNK and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase may be responsible for some of the cellular responses elicited by the CB(1) cannabinoid receptor.
Mol Pharmacol 2000 Oct
PMID:The CB(1) cannabinoid receptor is coupled to the activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase. 1099 52


<< Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next >>