Importance of Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors as a Drug Target
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors are found in humans’ central nervous system and play a major role in the peripheral nervous system, including acting as a neuronal communication channel; available at the skeleton muscle and receives acetylcholine purposely released to transmission for contraction of muscles. Additionally, they are responsible for the conversion of neurotransmitter bindings into electronic depolarization. Here, the protein combines with the binding sites of neurotransmitter acetylcholine as well as a cationic ion channel. This protein has been associated with different neurological conditions and functions as a drug target (Gahring, & Rogers, 2005, p. 155; Teodorczuk, 2006, pp. 155). As drug target, the function of the receptors is quite complex, both in their physiological and structural functions. Due to this, it is essential to analyze the importance of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors as a drug target. Initial research reveals the difficulty in identification of small molecule modulators which in turn resulted in doubts about the validity of the protein as drug receptors. However, in vitro …show more content…
Usually, these natural compounds combine with a number of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and transmit physiological responses in the human body. Nicotinic agonist exposure affects the brain and nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. This exposure leads to an upregulation of the receptors. However, it is only experienced in a specific group of the receptor subtypes, and cell types and the ability of nicotine drug to up-regulate nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and its dosage dependence varies from one cell to another, between different species and by receptor’s subtype (Ambrosi, & Becchetti, 2012,
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors are found in humans’ central nervous system and play a major role in the peripheral nervous system, including acting as a neuronal communication channel; available at the skeleton muscle and receives acetylcholine purposely released to transmission for contraction of muscles. Additionally, they are responsible for the conversion of neurotransmitter bindings into electronic depolarization. Here, the protein combines with the binding sites of neurotransmitter acetylcholine as well as a cationic ion channel. This protein has been associated with different neurological conditions and functions as a drug target (Gahring, & Rogers, 2005, p. 155; Teodorczuk, 2006, pp. 155). As drug target, the function of the receptors is quite complex, both in their physiological and structural functions. Due to this, it is essential to analyze the importance of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors as a drug target. Initial research reveals the difficulty in identification of small molecule modulators which in turn resulted in doubts about the validity of the protein as drug receptors. However, in vitro …show more content…
Usually, these natural compounds combine with a number of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and transmit physiological responses in the human body. Nicotinic agonist exposure affects the brain and nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. This exposure leads to an upregulation of the receptors. However, it is only experienced in a specific group of the receptor subtypes, and cell types and the ability of nicotine drug to up-regulate nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and its dosage dependence varies from one cell to another, between different species and by receptor’s subtype (Ambrosi, & Becchetti, 2012,