Molecular characterization of an enzyme that degrades neuromodulatory fatty-acid amides

The enzyme oleamide hydrolase is responsible for the inactivation of neuromodulatory fatty acid amides, bioactive signalling molecules. The protein sequence of the fatty-acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) has similarities with the protein sequence of the various amidase enzyme sequences taken from divergent organisms. These different amidases share a common identifying sequence. The FAAH cDNA transfected COS-7 cells show high activity levels of oleamide hydrolase.