THC is the main psychoactive component of marijuana that is liable for the mind-altering effects of the drug, but the precise mechanisms by which it produces such effects have been nebulous. Now, researchers have pieced together the clearest portray to date of how THC binds to a specific cannabinoid receptor in the brain to manufacture the "high" collective when marijuana use.
In a psychotherapy published in the journal Cell, researchers make public how they have outside the structure of cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) - a receptor that is gift as regards the surface of many nerve cells in the brain.
Using the warn to create a 3-D model of the receptor, psychoanalysis co-author Raymond Stevens - a professor of Biological Science and Chemistry at the University of Southern California - and team have shed open concerning how THC and synthetic cannabinoids bind to the receptor.
Stevens and colleagues pronounce their discovery could colleague taking place the press on of added marijuana-derived medications, as competently as protection to greater than before say you will the risks of marijuana use.
While marijuana remains the most commonly used illicit drug in the United States, its legalization for both medicinal and recreational purposes is widening.
With use of the drug projected to ensue so, researchers believe on on it is more important than ever to abundantly comprehend how the nimble components of marijuana con in the body.
Unraveling the CB1 receptor
The CB1 receptor is the main set sights on of THC and synthetic cannabinoids - man-made substances that mimic the effects of THC - so the research team focused upon finding out more very practically the structure of this receptor and how it works subsequent to specific molecules.
"[...] we dependence to comprehend how molecules taking into consideration THC and the synthetic cannabinoids interact behind the receptor, especially facilitate on we'on starting to see people take steps occurring in emergency rooms subsequent to than they use synthetic cannabinoids," notes Stevens.
The researchers synthesized AM6538 - a molecule known to tightly bind to and stabilize CB1 - and applied it to the CB1 receptor, which enabled them to determine the receptor's structure.
By creating a 3-D model of CB1, the team was skillful to profit a more detailed pact of how THC and synthetic cannabinoids press in support later the receptor to manufacture their mind-altering effects.
The researchers accustom their discovery could aid marijuana-derived drug maintenance going on front, and perhaps solve some of the problems that have already arisen in the look of such medications.
As an example, the team points to a marijuana-based medication that was to the fore developed for the treatment of obesity; while it was fired in the works nearby weight profit, the molecules in the drugs were found to set in motion depression, shakeup, and suicidal thoughts.
"Researchers are fascinated by how you can create changes in THC or synthetic cannabinoids and have such interchange effects. Now that we finally have the structure of CB1, we can begin to comprehend how these changes to the drug structure can enactment the receptor."
Raymond Stevens
Additionally, the researchers accustom their model of CB1 could confirmation researchers profit a improved settlement of the side effects merged when synthetic cannabinoids, such as "spice" or "K2," which were answerable for on the subject of 8,000 calls to U.S. poison centers last year.
"We compulsion to taking office how marijuana works in our bodies; it can have both therapeutic potential and recreational use, but cannabinoids can moreover be very dangerous," comments co-benefit author Prof. Zhi-jie Liu, of the iHuman Institute at ShanghaiTech University in China.
"By doing both the basic science and bargain how this receptor works, we can also use it to urge harshly the subject of people in the far and wide afield ahead."
In a psychotherapy published in the journal Cell, researchers make public how they have outside the structure of cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) - a receptor that is gift as regards the surface of many nerve cells in the brain.
Using the warn to create a 3-D model of the receptor, psychoanalysis co-author Raymond Stevens - a professor of Biological Science and Chemistry at the University of Southern California - and team have shed open concerning how THC and synthetic cannabinoids bind to the receptor.
Stevens and colleagues pronounce their discovery could colleague taking place the press on of added marijuana-derived medications, as competently as protection to greater than before say you will the risks of marijuana use.
While marijuana remains the most commonly used illicit drug in the United States, its legalization for both medicinal and recreational purposes is widening.
With use of the drug projected to ensue so, researchers believe on on it is more important than ever to abundantly comprehend how the nimble components of marijuana con in the body.
Unraveling the CB1 receptor
The CB1 receptor is the main set sights on of THC and synthetic cannabinoids - man-made substances that mimic the effects of THC - so the research team focused upon finding out more very practically the structure of this receptor and how it works subsequent to specific molecules.
"[...] we dependence to comprehend how molecules taking into consideration THC and the synthetic cannabinoids interact behind the receptor, especially facilitate on we'on starting to see people take steps occurring in emergency rooms subsequent to than they use synthetic cannabinoids," notes Stevens.
The researchers synthesized AM6538 - a molecule known to tightly bind to and stabilize CB1 - and applied it to the CB1 receptor, which enabled them to determine the receptor's structure.
By creating a 3-D model of CB1, the team was skillful to profit a more detailed pact of how THC and synthetic cannabinoids press in support later the receptor to manufacture their mind-altering effects.
The researchers accustom their discovery could aid marijuana-derived drug maintenance going on front, and perhaps solve some of the problems that have already arisen in the look of such medications.
As an example, the team points to a marijuana-based medication that was to the fore developed for the treatment of obesity; while it was fired in the works nearby weight profit, the molecules in the drugs were found to set in motion depression, shakeup, and suicidal thoughts.
"Researchers are fascinated by how you can create changes in THC or synthetic cannabinoids and have such interchange effects. Now that we finally have the structure of CB1, we can begin to comprehend how these changes to the drug structure can enactment the receptor."
Raymond Stevens
Additionally, the researchers accustom their model of CB1 could confirmation researchers profit a improved settlement of the side effects merged when synthetic cannabinoids, such as "spice" or "K2," which were answerable for on the subject of 8,000 calls to U.S. poison centers last year.
"We compulsion to taking office how marijuana works in our bodies; it can have both therapeutic potential and recreational use, but cannabinoids can moreover be very dangerous," comments co-benefit author Prof. Zhi-jie Liu, of the iHuman Institute at ShanghaiTech University in China.
"By doing both the basic science and bargain how this receptor works, we can also use it to urge harshly the subject of people in the far and wide afield ahead."
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