Anandamide is an endocannabinoid. After it is released to the extracellular space from postsynaptic terminal, it binds to the cannabinoid receptor on the presynaptic terminal (see Endogenous cannabinoid signaling pathway). Anandamide is also transported via carrier-mediated uptake into nerve endings and glia. The nature of the carrier or transporter has not been characterized. It is believed to be through a selective process if facilitated diffusion. It is believed that anandamide can be produced via hydrolysis of the phospholipid precursor N-arachidonoyl phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), catalyzed by a phospholipase D-type activity. Medline=16938887 Medline=12843414 4.0 inactive inactive inactive inactive inactive Long Name: anandamide Synonym: Synonym not specified Accession: S05787 inside SIMPLE_MOLECULE anandamide Long Name: Phospholipase D Synonym: Synonym not specified Accession: P05739 inside PROTEIN pr3 Long Name: N-arachidonoyl PE Synonym: Synonym not specified Accession: S05786 inside SIMPLE_MOLECULE N-arachidonoyl PE Long Name: N-acyl transferase activity Synonym: Synonym not specified Accession: P05740 inside PROTEIN pr2 Long Name: phosphatidylethanolamine Synonym: Synonym not specified Accession: S05785 inside SIMPLE_MOLECULE phosphatidylethanolamine STATE_TRANSITION sa5 sa3 sa4 STATE_TRANSITION sa3 sa1 sa2