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teufelfisch

Today I'm writing a paper which compares THC to anandamide, and analyzes why anandamide is a cannabinoid receptor agonist. I'd like to hear some suggestions or recommendations as my paper develops.

Structurally, anandamide is not much like THC. THC (like most cannabinoids) is a three-ringed molecule with one aromatic and a lipid "tail". Anandamide, on the other hand, is a polyunsaturated lipid with an amide "head". Logic says that anandamide should not be pharmacologically active at the CBn receptors, but it is. The reason it's active is that the electronegative portions of the molecule are arranged similar to THC (or other cannabinoids).

Right now, I've just written the introduction. Here's a sample:
(references did not copy+paste)

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teufelfisch

Well, damn. Apparently I'm the only one who cares about this crap.

Mamabudz

Naw... not just you...

Let's take a look see:

A diagram of each molecule would be worthwhile here as a picture does speak 1,000 words.


You need to provide you reader with more than "like other cannabinoids" ...name them...and picture them as well. With references.

Also the similarities are there as well -- both lipids. You do not mention the type of lipid formulating the THC. Is it important? If not why not? So far I see merely the similarity and the fact that both bind to CB1 receptor sites.

I know Logic...nice guy. But do spell out WHY before making a conclusion -- Exposition/Explaination/Conclusion should be your framework . It's hard to do when the information is clear to you, but for those of us learning from your thesis we need it ALL spelled out.

Pronouns..."reason it's active" which It's THC or Anadamide?

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I suggest you first demonstrate in your paper that they both bind to receptor sites and then discuss why it is that they should NOT.

Good work ...keep me up to date on this.

...have a cookie

Hugz,

Mama Budz

teufelfisch

Thanks for the reply! But what you just disassembled was just an explanation of my paper, not the actual paper. The quoted part was the paper.

I've written a little more since starting, but I don't have the file with me. Check back in like 15 mins.

There are basically three or four classes of compounds that bind to the receptors:
1) Classic tricyclic cannabinoids like THC
2) Synthetic bicyclic cannabinoids, which are structurally very similar to THC and usually more potent (though some bicyclic cannabinoids are not synthetic). An example is CP 55,940, which is (I think) 10x as potent.
3) Naturally produced arachidonic (sp?) acid derivatives like anandamide-- this is the focus of my paper.
4) Compounds that have virtually no relation to anandamide or THC, like WIN 55,212

The best picture I could find on the web was actually from mj.com:
http://www.Marijuana.com/marimed/ch2_f4.html

I should have said "hydrocarbon tail". "Lipid" suggests a longer hydrocarbon chain, but that term is also misleading-- arachidonic acid is a fatty acid, not really 100% lipid. THC's hydrocarbon tail is pentyl (5 carbons), I think, whereas anandamide's longest chain is 20 carbons.

Mamabudz

Cool...

...Great now when I get stoned I'll be imagining little pot leaves riding around on Schwinns

...have a cookie

Hugz,

Mama Budz

 

greypoe

So the question is why does THC replace the anandamide. First off we need to know the function of our receptors. What is the function of a receptor. To regulate signals throughout the body, and to tell cells to grow or not to grow. What would make the chemicals from cannabis better then anandamide? To understand this you have to look at the whole herb. When we smoke cannabis we often leave out a very important part, the seeds. The seeds contain an oil which improves our cells. The oil is the most efficent substance for our body's cell growth. Healthy cells means more efficient signal transduction.

So what about these signals. What sort of signals is Marijuana sending. Why do we become so hungery when we eat the herb? Is Marijuana somehow aiding our digestion? Perhaps the plant wishes to be mixed with other food.
You may be asking, how could a plant have a wish, a plant cannot think.
Actually plants do show a form of thought, they have the ability to send signals to other plants, and insects. http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/1998/981002.htm
According to this link, plants can identify a caterpillar munching on their leaves, and signal a wasp to kill it. Also, the plant can specifiy to the wasp what sort of caterpillar is, the wasp can be picky. This shows that plants are able to sense what kind of caterpillar is munching. In short, plants can sense their environment, and react with a signal.

greypoe

Ok fish,
Im confident about what I put in the first paragraph there.
The second paragraph in my last post is pretty complex, and looks like poo because I didnt fully explain it. Give me a little time to get back to it, and ill explain how that ties into this.

teufelfisch

Well, the function of our cannabinoid CB1 receptors are the effects that people associate with Marijuana/THC (antinociception, increased hunger, the "high" feeling, ptosis, etc). Biologically, these receptors serve to regulate our cardiac, immune, and nervous systems. Nobody's really sure about the function of the CB2 receptor, but because of the location (in the tissues around the spleen) they assume it has something to do with the immune system.
I like all the other chemicals I get other than THC when I smoke the herb. CBN, CBD, oh yeah! So what makes these more potent than anandamide? It's the way the receptor interacts with the chemicals that make them more potent. THC and its related chemicals ("analogues") bind more strongly to the receptors than anandamide does, usually. This makes them more potent.
Which oil does this? I'm curious here..

If you want to read all of my paper, it can be found here.

Mamabudz

Bravo... a legitimate answer to a direct question...You win the golden ticket!!

And I did...and it's the best research paper I have read from any poster yest.

I'm mighty proud of you...MIGHTY PROUD! And Papa Budz too!

Have a huge cookie ...you deserve it!

Hugz,

Mama Budz

DonkeyPunch

That, good sir, is a hell of a paper. Great job!!

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