Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase (FAAH) Substrates Small Molecules and Peptides

Fatty acid amide hydrolase, (FAAH, Oleamide hydrolase, Anandamide amidohydrolase), is an integral membrane protein that hydrolyzes bioactive amides, including anandamide, to free fatty acid and ethanolamine.

FAAH distribution is noticeably different between human and rat. In humans, FAAH is mainly present in the pancreas, brain, kidney, skeletal muscle, and placenta. In rat, FAAH is mainly detected in the liver, small intestine, brain, kidney, spleen, testis, and uterus, but is absent from skeletal muscle and heart. A second FAAH (FAAH2) was identified recently in humans but is absent from rats and mice.