Biased signaling by endogenous opioid peptides.

ABSTRACT: Opioids, such as morphine and fentanyl, are widely used for the treatment of severe pain; however, prolonged treatment with these drugs leads to the development of tolerance and can lead to opioid use disorder. The "Opioid Epidemic" has generated a drive for a deeper understanding of the fundamental signaling mechanisms of opioid receptors. It is generally thought that the three types of opioid receptors (μ, δ, κ) are activated by endogenous peptides derived from three different precursors: Proopiomelanocortin, proenkephalin, and prodynorphin. Posttranslational processing of these precursors generates >20 peptides with opioid receptor activity, leading to a long-standing question of the significance of this repertoire of peptides. Here, we address some aspects of this question using a tech

SUBMITTER: Gomes I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7261131 | biostudies-literature | 2020 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature