Scientists identified an enzyme called VLK that active neurons release outside the cell. VLK can change proteins on the outside of nearby cells in a process called phosphorylation, and this can change how cells send pain signals.
In experiments with mice, removing VLK from pain-sensing neurons reduced the normal pain after surgery while the animals still moved and sensed normally. When researchers added extra VLK, pain responses increased. The study was published in Science.
Researchers say targeting enzymes outside cells, like VLK, could offer a safer way to affect pain pathways because drugs might not need to enter cells and so could cause fewer side effects.
Difficult words
- enzyme — protein that speeds up chemical reactions
- neuron — a cell that sends signals in the bodyneurons
- phosphorylation — a chemical change that adds a phosphate
- pain-sensing — describes cells that detect pain signals
- pathway — a series of cells or steps carrying signalspathways
- side effect — an unwanted medical reaction from a drugside effects
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Discussion questions
- Why do you think it is useful to find enzymes that work outside cells?
- Would you prefer a pain medicine with fewer side effects? Why or why not?
- How could reducing normal pain after surgery help patients?
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