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Enzymatic synthesis of oleamide (cis‐9,10‐octadecenoamide), an endogenous sleep‐inducing lipid, by rat brain microsomes
Author(s) -
Sugiura Takayuki,
Kondo Sachiko,
Kodaka Tomoko,
Tonegawa Takashi,
Nakane Shinji,
Yamashita Atsushi,
Ishima Yoshio,
Waku Keizo
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
iubmb life
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.132
H-Index - 113
eISSN - 1521-6551
pISSN - 1521-6543
DOI - 10.1080/15216549600201553
Subject(s) - microsome , enzyme , chemistry , biochemistry , oleic acid , incubation , enzyme assay , endogeny , chromatography
The enzymatic synthesis of a novel sleep‐inducing lipid, oleamide (cis‐9,10‐octadecenoamide), was studied using rat brain subcellular fractions as enzyme sources. We found that oleamide was formed from oleic acid and ammonia on incubation with a brain homogenate. The enzyme activity catalyzing the formation of oleamide from oleic acid and ammonia was highest in the microsomal fraction among the subcellular fractions. Boiled microsomes did not exhibit appreciable enzyme activity. These results strongly suggest that oleamide can be synthesized enzymatically in the brains of stimulated animals.