What the experiments showed
Howlett, Qualy and Khachatrian studied cannabinoid-related signaling in cultured cells. Pertussis-toxin treatment abolished the inhibition of adenylate cyclase by the tested compounds, supporting a requirement for functional Gi signaling. The work contributed evidence for a receptor-mediated mechanism. Original paper.
Its place in the discovery sequence
This was not receptor cloning or the first evidence of every kind. Matsuda’s 1990 cloning paper cites this work as reference 6 alongside earlier experiments from 1984 and 1985. Distinguishing signaling experiments from later molecular identification avoids compressing several discoveries into one claim. Matsuda’s primary references.
Read the original research
Involvement of Gi in the inhibition of adenylate cyclase by cannabimimetic drugs.
Molecular pharmacology
Citation
A C Howlett; J M Qualy; L L Khachatrian. (1986). Involvement of Gi in the inhibition of adenylate cyclase by cannabimimetic drugs.. Molecular pharmacology.