Congratulations to Yan Xu PhD, Tanxing Cui PhD, and co-authors from the National Institutes of Health for their paper “Cannabinoid Potentiation of Glycine Receptors Contributes to Cannabis-Induced Analgesia,” which was published in Nature Chemical Biology (advance online publication, April 3, 2011). Nature Chemical Biology has a 2009 ISI impact factor of 16.058, making it the leading primary research journal not only in chemical biology, but also across related chemical sciences.
While it is known that cannabinoids modulate the function of glycine receptors (GlyRs), little is known about the mechanisms and behavioral implication of cannabinoid-GlyR interaction. Using mutagenesis and NMR analysis, Dr. Xu and colleagues identified a serine at 296 in the transmembrane domain of the GlyR critical for the potentiation of the current passing through the GlyR channel by Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a major psychoactive component of marijuana. Dr. Xu and colleagues also provided evidence to suggest that the site and the action of mechanism of cannabinoid potentiation of GlyRs critically contribute to the cannabis-induced analgesic effect. These findings could help to identify a new strategy for developing new analgesic agents without psychoactive side effects.
The publication by Dr. Xu and colleagues has attracted international media attention, sparking articles in NewScientist, The Toronto Sun, and LA Weekly:
- Cannabis-like Drugs Could Kill Pain without the High
- The Toronto Sun: Pot That Kills Pain With no High is Possible: Study
- Modified Cannabinoid THC Offers Pain Relief without the Buzz
- Marijuana Pain Reliever without 'Unwanted Highs' Possible: L.A. Pot Shops Frightened at Prospect
- Scientists Set to Develop Cannabis-like Drugs to Relieve Pain without the High
- Cannabis Relieves Pain without the High