NBD AA 810106 20-[(7-nitro-2-1,3-benzoxadiazol-4-yl)amino] arachidonic acid

The endocannabinoid pathway influences behavior, lipogenesis, embryologic development, and pathophysiological effects including pain, inflammation, stress, obesity, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Endogenous endocannabinoids including arachidonoylethanolamide (anandamide, AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) are derived from arachidonic acid (AA). Fluorescent NBD-AA and NBD-AEA analogues are direct probes that can be used for visualizing the uptake, intracellular trafficking, and targeting of these molecules by living cells, as well as measuring the binding of endocannabinoids to cytosolic binding proteins. Importantly, direct binding studies show the affinities of the fluorescent analogues are in the same range as the respective unlabeled ligands. Fluorescent endocannabinoid probes are useful for mapping the impact of various treatments, inhibitors, etc on endocannabinoid uptake and distribution in living cells.