11C-K-2

11C-K-2 is a Carbon-11 labeled small molecule radiopharmaceutical developed for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of diacylglycerol lipase (DAGL). DAGL is the primary enzyme responsible for the biosynthesis of 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), a major endocannabinoid signaling molecule involved in neuroinflammation, synaptic plasticity, and various neurological processes. Developed by researchers at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), 11C-K-2 functions as a high-affinity, covalent inhibitor that binds to the active site of DAGL, allowing for the non-invasive quantification of enzyme density and activity in the central nervous system. It is primarily utilized in clinical research to investigate alterations in the endocannabinoid system associated with neurodegenerative diseases and psychiatric disorders, and to serve as a biomarker for evaluating DAGL-targeted therapeutic candidates.

Other names

Carbon-11-K-2Carbon11-K-2Carbon 11-K-2