Sandbox Reserved 919: Difference between revisions

'''Monoglyceride Lipase''' ('''MGL''', '''MAGL''', '''MGLL''') is a 33 kDa [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protein protein] found mostly in the cell membrane. It is a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serine_hydrolase serine hydrolase] enzyme that exhibits an [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpha/beta_hydrolase_fold α/β hydrolase fold]. MGL plays a key role in the hydrolysis of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2-Arachidonoylglycerol 2-arachidonoylglycerol] (2-AG), an endocannabinoid produced by the the central nervous system. MGL possesses an [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amphiphile amphipathic] character that allows the protein to be present both in the membrane and in the cytosol. The α/β fold, along with a characteristic amphipathic occluded tunnel, allows 2-AG to selectively bind to the active site and be broken down into [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arachidonic_acid arachidonic acid] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glycerol glycerol]. Upon breakdown, glycerol leaves via an "exit tunnel" found perpendicular to the active site. 2-AG itself has been found to possess anti-nociceptive, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory and tumor-reductive character when it binds to cannabinoid receptors. Due to the vast medical and therapeutic utility of 2-AG, the inhibition of MGL is a high interest target in pharmaceutical research. <ref name="bert"> PMID:19962385 </ref>