Tocris Bioscience Launch Tocrifluor T1117

Tocris Bioscience is pleased to announce the launch of Tocrifluor T1117 (Cat. No. 2540). Co developed by Tocris and the University of Glasgow, Tocrifluor T1117 is the CB₁ antagonist AM 251 labelled with a rhodamine derivative, and is the first commercially available fluorescent cannabinoid ligand.

New research published by Daly et al (2008) has now shown that Tocrifluor T1117 is a novel and potentially very powerful tool for identifying the cellular location of cannabinoid receptors, including GPR55¹.

Dr. Craig Daly, Research Fellow at the University of Glasgow, said, "The role of cannabinoids in the cardiovascular system is both complicated and fascinating. We have found that T1117 has fluorescent properties ideally suited for analyzing its binding in unfixed, thick biological specimens (i.e. blood vessels). T1117 is very stable under confocal laser excitation, has a good fluorescent yield, does not appear to be toxic and binds to similar (but not identical) sites as those recognized by other vasoactive fluorescent ligands for adrenergic receptors. T1117 should be a very useful tool for fluorescence based receptor studies."

The CB₁ receptor, also known as the central cannabinoid receptor, is a member of the cannabinoid receptor group of G-protein-coupled receptors that also includes CB₂. CB₁ receptors are found mainly in the terminals of central and peripheral neurons where they usually mediate inhibition of neurotransmitter release. They can also be present on some non-neuronal cells, including immune cells.

GPR55 was identified and cloned for the first time in 1999. Later it was identified as a putative cannabinoid receptor because of a similar amino acid sequence in the binding region. Consistent with this, GPR55 is activated by endogenous, plant and synthetic cannabinoids and this profile as a distinct non-CB₁/CB₂ receptor has led to suggestions that GPR55 be categorized as the CB₃ receptor.

Duncan Crawford, Tocris' Chief Scientific Officer, said, "Novel products have always been an essential component of Tocris' range. We anticipate that the ability of Tocrifluor T1117 to pinpoint these receptors will be of great benefit to life scientists."

View full product information on Tocrifluor T1117 (Cat. No. 2540).

¹Daly et al (2008) Vascular and Smooth Muscle Phys.Soc. Symposium 2008.