Basic Mechanisms of Synthesis and Hydrolysis of Major Endocannabinoids

Twenty-five years after the discovery of the first cannabinoid receptor, several efforts have been made to identify the biochemical routes potentially used by cells to produce its endogenous ligands anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol. These endocannabinoids (eCBs) are key molecules engaged in multiple biological processes that, together with their molecular targets, biosynthetic and catabolic enzymes, form the so-called "endocannabinoid system." Despite the development of selective pharmacological and genetic tools to target eCB metabolic enzymes, there are still some missing pieces that prevent a full understanding of eCB biosynthesis and hydrolysis. In this chapter, we will review the latest advances on the metabolic pathways that account for production and degradation of eCBs.