What is the natural ligand of GPR55?

J Biochem. 2011 May;149(5):495-7. doi: 10.1093/jb/mvr022. Epub 2011 Feb 15.

Abstract

GPR55 is a seven transmembrane G protein-coupled receptor and was originally identified as a putative third cannabinoid receptor. Recently, lysophosphatidylinositol (LPI) was reported to be a GPR55 ligand. Stimulation of GPR55 by LPI activates G(12/13) and G(q/11) proteins, induces phosphorylation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase and increases intracellular calcium concentration. Lysophospholipids are molecularly quite diverse across species and tissues. A recent report showed that the predominant fatty acyl moiety of LPI in rat brain is stearic acid followed by arachidonic acid. The biological activity of arachidonic acid-containing LPI species towards GPR55 was shown to be markedly higher than that of LPI species containing other fatty acyl groups, suggesting that 2-arachidonolyl LPI is the most likely natural ligand of GPR55.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cannabinoids / chemistry
  • Cannabinoids / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Ligands*
  • Molecular Structure
  • Rats
  • Receptors, Cannabinoid / chemistry
  • Receptors, Cannabinoid / metabolism
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / chemistry
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / metabolism*

Substances

  • Adgrg1 protein, rat
  • Cannabinoids
  • GPR55 protein, human
  • Ligands
  • Receptors, Cannabinoid
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled