6533b870fe1ef96bd12cfd58

RESEARCH PRODUCT

The Life Cycle of the Mu-Opioid Receptor

Lucía HipólitoJavier CuitaviMeritxell Canals

subject

media_common.quotation_subjectBioinformaticsBiochemistry03 medical and health sciences0302 clinical medicineMediatorAnimalsMedicineReceptorMolecular Biology030304 developmental biologymedia_commonG protein-coupled receptorLife Cycle Stages0303 health sciencesbusiness.industryAddictionDrug ToleranceAnalgesics OpioidOpioidReceptors Opioidμ-opioid receptorbusiness030217 neurology & neurosurgeryBiogenesismedicine.drug

description

Opioid receptors (ORs) are undisputed targets for the treatment of pain. Unfortunately, targeting these receptors therapeutically poses significant challenges including addiction, dependence, tolerance, and the appearance of side effects, such as respiratory depression and constipation. Moreover, misuse of prescription and illicit narcotics has resulted in the current opioid crisis. The mu-opioid receptor (MOR) is the cellular mediator of the effects of most commonly used opioids, and is a prototypical G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) where new pharmacological, signalling and cell biology concepts have been coined. This review summarises the knowledge of the life cycle of this therapeutic target, including its biogenesis, trafficking to and from the plasma membrane, and how the regulation of these processes impacts its function and is related to pathophysiological conditions.

yearjournalcountryeditionlanguage
2020-08-07Trends in Biochemical Sciences
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tibs.2020.10.002