NAAA
NAAA (N-acylethanolamine acid amidase, also known as ASAHL) is a lysosomal hydrolase that degrades bioactive fatty acid amides to their corresponding acids. It belongs to the acid ceramidase family and is encoded by the human NAAA gene. Browse Assay Genie's current range of NAAA research reagents below, or read on for the biology behind the target.
NAAA is an amidase that hydrolyses bioactive fatty acid amides into their corresponding fatty acids. Its substrate preference runs from N-palmitoylethanolamine, the most favoured, through N-myristoylethanolamine, then N-lauroylethanolamine and N-stearoylethanolamine (equal), then N-arachidonoylethanolamine, with N-oleoylethanolamine the least preferred. The enzyme also shows weak hydrolytic activity against the ceramides N-lauroylsphingosine and N-palmitoylsphingosine. In gene-level annotation it is described as a hydrolase acting on carbon-nitrogen bonds (other than peptide bonds) in linear amides.
The protein is classed in the acid ceramidase family, and the NAAA gene belongs to the HGNC group of N-arachidonoylethanolamine hydrolases. It is located in the lysosome and at membranes. NCBI Gene also lists DNA-binding transcription factor binding activity among its enabled molecular functions. Mouse and rat both carry an ortholog named Naaa, which allows comparative work across common model species.
NAAA is involved in several metabolic processes: N-acylethanolamine metabolism, N-acylphosphatidylethanolamine metabolism and sphingosine metabolism. The gene was previously named N-acylsphingosine amidohydrolase (acid ceramidase)-like, with the symbol ASAHL, a name that reflects its relationship to acid ceramidase. Researchers studying fatty acid amide signalling and lipid turnover in the lysosome commonly use an NAAA antibody, an NAAA ELISA kit or recombinant NAAA protein to investigate expression and activity.
NAAA converts bioactive fatty acid amides such as N-palmitoylethanolamine to their corresponding acids, making it central to studies of N-acylethanolamine turnover.
As a lysosomal and membrane-associated hydrolase, NAAA is a useful subject for work on lysosomal lipid degradation.
NAAA belongs to the acid ceramidase family and shows weak activity against ceramides, linking it to sphingosine metabolism.
The defined substrate preference order of NAAA supports comparative work on amide hydrolases and their selectivity for different acyl chains.
NAAA degrades bioactive fatty acid amides to their corresponding acids. It prefers N-palmitoylethanolamine, followed by N-myristoylethanolamine, and acts less readily on N-oleoylethanolamine. It also has weak hydrolytic activity against the ceramides N-lauroylsphingosine and N-palmitoylsphingosine.
NAAA is the HGNC symbol for N-acylethanolamine acid amidase, also called N-acylethanolamine-hydrolyzing acid amidase. The earlier symbol was ASAHL, from the previous name N-acylsphingosine amidohydrolase (acid ceramidase)-like. Its enzyme classification is EC 3.5.1.60.
Yes. Mouse and rat each have an ortholog named Naaa, so the human protein can be studied in common rodent models. Cross-species reactivity differs between reagents, so check the datasheet of any product for its validated reactivity.
Acid ceramidase family members, fatty acid amide hydrolases and lipid-signalling partners related to NAAA.
Gene and protein annotations from HGNC, NCBI Gene and UniProt Q02083; product specifications from Assay Genie datasheets.