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Wire servicesandbroadcastnews,
June8, 1995,3:00p.m. Pacifictime
Print media,June9, 1995
#060995
Scripps Scientists Identify a Novel Lipid with Potential
Sleep-Modulating ProPerties
La Jolla, CA. June9, t995 - Researchersat The ScrippsResearchInstitute (TSRI) have
isolated, characterizedand identified a novel moleculeof the primary amide family of
lipids that has been shown to have sleep-inducingpropertiesin animal models. The
investigators' work, publishedtn Science,suggeststhat a new, natural sourcefor a sleep
modulating substancemay be at hand.
The research,conductedby TSRI's departmentsof chemistry and neuropharmacology,
entailed extracting the cerebrospinalfluid (CSF) of sleep-deprivedcats and subjectingit to
modern analytical chemical techniquesto ascertainthe exact molecular structureof this
molecule.
was determinedby mass
The structure of the compound,cis-9,l0-octadecenoamide,
spectrometry,nuclear magneticresonancespectroscopy,infrared spectroscopy,gas
chromatography,thin layer chromatographyand chemicaldegradationprocedures.This
compoundand other fatry acid primary amideswere identified as natural constituentsof the
cerebrospinalfluid of cat, rat, and man, indicating that thesecompoundscomposea
distinct family of brain liPids.
-more-
Page2- ScrippsScientistsldentify a Novel Lipid
was foundto be the only moleculethat
A syntheticanalogueof the cis-9,10-octadecenoamide
propertieswhen injectedinto rats.Accordingto StevenJ.
exhibitedpotentsleep-inducing
Henriksen,Ph.D.,the chief TSRI sleepphysiologyinvestigatoron the six-memberteam(see
below), "The syntheticprimary amideput the rats to sleepin a remarkablynaturalmanner.
The injections were given to the rats at the time when they would normally be awakeand the
sleepthat was producedwas architecturallyvery similar to their normal sleepcycling."
Aside from the potential ramificationsfor sleepmanipulationresearch,the TSRI study
suggeststhat the fatty acid primary amidesmay representa new classof biological signaling
molecules;that is, chemicalcompoundsthat play a part in the cascadeof eventsthat evolve
when a molecule attachesto a cell membrane.
The TSRI findings representthe latestresearchin the centuriesold searchfor safesleepinducing substances.While much researchwill needto be doneon the primary amides,
includinglooking morecloselyat othermembers'ofthe lipid family andtheir long-term
effect on circadianrhythms,the TSRI researchmay well be a major stepforward in
understandingthe cellular processesunderlyingsleep.
Other membersof the TSRI researchteamwere BenjaminF. Cravatt,OscarProspero-Garcia
M.D., Ph.D.,Gary Siuzdak,Ph.D.,Dale L. Boger,Ph.D.,andRichardA. Lerner,M.D.
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