Re-discussion of the importance of ionic interactions in stabilizing ligand-opioid receptor complex and in activating signal transduction

• Published in: Current drug targets Vol. 8; no. 1; p. 185
• Main Authors: Gentilucci, Luca, Squassabia, Federico, Artali, Roberto
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United Arab Emirates 01.01.2007
• Subjects: Animals; Binding Sites - physiology; Humans; Ion Channels - agonists; Ion Channels - metabolism; Ligands; Opioid Peptides - chemistry; Opioid Peptides - metabolism; Receptors, Opioid - agonists; Receptors, Opioid - metabolism; Signal Transduction - physiology

Among the many receptor classes of the GPCR family, ORs constitute a privileged drug target for their involvement in pain modulation and in a number of physiological functions and behavioural effects. Endogenous and exogenous opioid agonists have been the subject of intense investigations aiming to...