Philip Kingsley
Last active: 3/12/2020

Publication

Analysis of endocannabinoids by Ag+ coordination tandem mass spectrometry.

Kingsley PJ, Marnett LJ
Anal Biochem. 2003 314 (1): 8-15

PMID: 12633597 · DOI:10.1016/s0003-2697(02)00643-7

The neutral arachidonic acid derivatives N-arachidonylethanolamide (anandamide or AEA) and 2-arachidonylglycerol (2-AG) have been identified as endogenous ligands for the cannabinoid receptors. Quantitation of these endocannabinoids from various tissues has been shown to be essential in the elucidation of cannabinoid-mediated processes in vivo. Here, we describe a novel method for the detection and quantitation of AEA and 2-AG from mammalian tissue. We exploit the ability of silver cation to bind to the polyunsaturated arachidonate backbone of both molecules to form the charged species [M+Ag](+). These complexes are amenable to liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry analysis, resulting in the simple and specific quantitation of AEA and 2-AG. The limits of detection of 2-AG and AEA are 13 and 14fmol, respectively, on-column. This method provides an alternative to existing methods, which employ derivation and/or selected ion monitoring (when mass spectrometric detection is used), and may facilitate the understanding of the physiological roles of this new class of compounds.

MeSH Terms (13)

Animals Brain Chemistry Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators Cannabinoids Chromatography, Liquid Endocannabinoids Fatty Acids, Unsaturated Male Mice Molecular Structure Sensitivity and Specificity Silver Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

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