Scientists from the United States and Finland found that the well-known protein of human nerve cells suppresses pain eight times more effectively than morphine. This protein was an enzyme resistant to fluorine, acid phosphatase (FRAP), present in the cells of the pain system. It changes the functions of the cells of this system in such a way that the activation of pain reactions is replaced by their suppression, as reported by the Internet publication for girls and women from 14 to 35 years old Pannochka. Net To study individual types of cells, researchers usually label them on the basis of the content of specific proteins inherent in specific cells. As such a marker for nervous cells (neurons) of the pain sensing system (nociceptive system) over the past 50 years, fluorine-resistant acid phosphatase. However, the gene encoding this enzyme was not identified.

Researchers from the University of North Carolina have previously found that the structure of FRAP is identical to the enzyme of prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP). At their request, scientists from the University of Helsinki withdrew genetically engineered mice that were deprived of a known gene encoding PAP. These mice lacked not only PAP, but also FRAP, which indicates the complete identity of these proteins.

The excreted mice showed a markedly increased sensitivity to pain. However, the introduction of excess FRAP into their cerebrospinal fluid significantly reduced pain responses. The strength of the analgesic effect, this protein was comparable to morphine, but unlike it acted not 5-6 hours, and about three days.

Scientists also found out the mechanism by which the action of FRAP is realized.

It is known that when a pain stimulus is applied to nociceptive neurons, a large amount of ATP (adenosine triphosphoric acid) is released, which triggers a cascade of pain reactions. FRAP cleaves from ATP two residues of phosphoric acid, converting it into AMP (adenosine monophosphoric acid), which, on the contrary, suppresses these reactions.

Currently, researchers are working to find similar FRAP for the action of substances that retain activity when taken orally.

Medicinform. Net.

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