Cravatt Reagent

The Uses of Cravatt Reagent

Endocannabinoids such as 2-arachidonoyl glycerol (2-AG; ) and arachidonoyl ethanolamide (AEA; ) are biologically active lipids that are involved in a number of synaptic processes including activation of cannabinoid receptors. Monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) is a serine hydrolase responsible for the hydrolysis of 2-AG to arachidonic acid and glycerol, thus terminating its biological function. MJN110 is an N-hydroxysuccinimidyl carbamate that inhibits MAGL (IC50 = 9.1 nM) and to a lesser extent ABHD6 with potent selectivity over FAAH (IC50 > 10 μM) and other brain serine hydrolases. It can inhibit 2-AG hydrolysis (IC50 = 2.1 nM) with no effect on AEA hydrolysis up to 50 μM. At 5 mg/kg, MJN110 has been shown to alleviate mechanical allodynia in a rat model of diabetic neuropathy.[Cayman Chemical]

The Uses of Cravatt Reagent

MJN110 has been used as a monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) inhibitor to study its effect on aggressive grooming in rats. It has also been used to inhibit lipid droplet formation.

Biochem/physiol Actions

MJN110 is a potent selective inhibitor of MAGL, the enzyme predominantly responsible for the degradation of the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) with >10,000 selectivity over FAAH, the hydrolase that degrades the endocannabinoid anandamide (AEA). MJN110 inhibits rat, mouse and human MAGL with IC50 values ranging from < 100 nM in rat to an IC50 of ~1 nM with 10- and 100-fold selectivity over closely related ABHD6, a serine hydrolase that acts as an alternative hydrolase of 2-AG, and LYPLA1/2 in human PC3 cells. MJN110 showed potent anti-hyperalgesic activity in a rat model of diabetic neuropathy, showing a therapeutic potential for treating diabetes chronic pain.