Picking Pathways: Small molecule boosts morphine effect
Some small molecules affect specific pathways in one of the body’s most common cell-regulating systems, according to a new report. The work could aid investigations of the pathways and lead to new drug therapies, the report’s authors say.
When certain cell-surface receptors bind a chemical stimulus, such as an opiate or a hormone, they interact with so-called G proteins. These three-subunit proteins then separate into two parts, known as alpha and beta-gamma. Alan V. Smrcka of the University of Rochester in New York and his colleagues focused on the beta-gamma part.