AUTHOR=Bhandari Suzeeta , Bisht Kirpal S. , Merkler David J. 

TITLE=The Biosynthesis and Metabolism of the N-Acylated Aromatic Amino Acids: N-Acylphenylalanine, N-Acyltyrosine, N-Acyltryptophan, and N-Acylhistidine

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences

VOLUME=8

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/molecular-biosciences/articles/10.3389/fmolb.2021.801749

DOI=10.3389/fmolb.2021.801749

ISSN=2296-889X

ABSTRACT=<p>The fatty acid amides are a family of lipids composed of two chemical moieties, a fatty acid and a biogenic amine linked together in an amide bond. This lipid family is structurally related to the endocannabinoid anandamide (<italic>N</italic>-arachidonoylethanolamine) and, thus, is frequently referred to as a family of endocannabinoid-related lipids. The fatty acid amide family is divided into different classes based on the conjugate amine; anandamide being a member of the <italic>N</italic>-acylethanolamine class (NAE). Another class within the fatty acid amide family is the <italic>N</italic>-acyl amino acids (NA-AAs). The focus of this review is a sub-class of the NA-AAs, the <italic>N</italic>-acyl aromatic amino acids (NA-ArAAs). The NA-ArAAs are not broadly recognized, even by those interested in the endocannabinoids and endocannabinoid-related lipids. Herein, the NA-ArAAs that have been identified from a biological source will be highlighted and pathways for their biosynthesis, degradation, enzymatic modification, and transport will be presented. Also, information about the cellular functions of the NA-ArAAs will be placed in context with the data regarding the identification and metabolism of these <italic>N</italic>-acylated amino acids. A review of the current state-of-knowledge about the NA-ArAAs is to stimulate future research about this underappreciated sub-class of the fatty acid amide family.</p>