Structure–function relationship of dynorphin B variants using naturally occurring amino acid substitutions [PDF]
Frontiers in PharmacologyDynorphins (Dyn) represent the subset of endogenous opioid peptides with the highest binding affinity to kappa opioid receptors (KOPrs). Activation of the G-protein-coupled pathway of KOPrs has strong anticonvulsant effects.
Luca Zangrandi +9 more
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Dynorphin A induces membrane permeabilization by formation of proteolipidic pores. Insights from electrophysiology and computational simulations [PDF]
Computational and Structural Biotechnology Journal, 2022 Dynorphins are endogenous neuropeptides that function as ligands for the κ-opioid receptor. In addition to opioid activity, dynorphins can induce several pathological effects such as neurological dysfunctions and cell death.
D. Aurora Perini +4 more
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Big dynorphin is a neuroprotector scaffold against amyloid β-peptide aggregation and cell toxicity [PDF]
Computational and Structural Biotechnology Journal, 2022 Amyloid β-peptide (Aβ) misfolding into β-sheet structures triggers neurotoxicity inducing Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Molecules able to reduce or to impair Aβ aggregation are highly relevant as possible AD treatments since they should protect against Aβ ...
Lucía Gallego-Villarejo +11 more
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Cellular Profiles of Prodynorphin and Preproenkephalin mRNA-Expressing Neurons in the Anterior Olfactory Tubercle of Mice [PDF]
Frontiers in Neural Circuits, 2022 The olfactory tubercle (OT) is a striatal region that receives olfactory inputs. mRNAs of prodynorphin (Pdyn) and preproenkephalin (Penk), precursors of dynorphins and enkephalins, respectively, are strongly expressed in the striatum. Both produce opioid
Ayako Maegawa +9 more
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Molecules, 2021 Neuropeptides serve as neurohormones and local paracrine regulators that control neural networks regulating behavior, endocrine system and sensorimotor functions. Their expression is characterized by exceptionally restricted profiles.
Olga Nosova +4 more
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Challenges and new opportunities for detecting endogenous opioid peptides in reward [PDF]
Addiction Neuroscience, 2022 The endogenous opioid peptide system, comprised of enkephalins, endorphins, dynorphins, and nociceptin, is a highly complex neurobiological system. Opioid peptides are derived from four precursor molecules and undergo several processing events yielding ...
Sineadh M. Conway +2 more
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Opioid Receptors in Psychedelia: Indirect Serotonergic Modulation of Direct KOR Activation by Salvinorin A [PDF]
BiomedicinesThe neuropharmacology of psychedelics has traditionally focused on serotonergic mechanisms, particularly 5-HT2A receptor activation. However, this paradigm incompletely explains the diversity of neurobiological and therapeutic effects observed across ...
Maximiliano Ganado +6 more
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Structural basis of divergent substrate recognition and inhibition of human neurolysin [PDF]
Scientific ReportsA zinc metallopeptidase neurolysin (Nln) processes diverse bioactive peptides to regulate signaling in the mammalian nervous system. To understand how Nln interacts with various peptides with dissimilar sequences, we determined crystal structures of Nln ...
Ke Shi +7 more
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Editorial: Kappa opioid receptors revealed: Disentangling the pharmacology to open up new therapeutic strategies [PDF]
Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2022 Wendy Margaret Walwyn, Marta Valenza
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Effect of PDYN rs2281285, rs2235749 and rs910080 gene polymorphisms on the intensity of depression symptoms and negative craving in heroin addicts [PDF]
Archives of Biological Sciences, 2021 The present study was undertaken to explore whether prodynorphin (PDYN) polymorphisms have an effect on the intensity of depressive symptoms and negative craving in heroin addicts in a sample of 100 heroin addicts and 108 controls.
Kaya-Akyüzlü Dilek +3 more
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