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Spider venom key to pain relief without side-effects

Date:
April 14, 2020
Source:
University of Queensland
Summary:
Molecules in tarantula venom could be used as an alternative to opioid pain killers for people seeking chronic pain relief.
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Molecules in tarantula venom could be used as an alternative to opioid pain killers for people seeking chronic pain relief.

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University of Queensland researchers have designed a novel tarantula venom mini-protein that can potentially relieve severe pain without addiction.

Dr Christina Schroeder from UQ's Institute for Molecular Bioscience said the current opioid crisis around the world meant urgent alternatives to morphine and morphine-like drugs, such as fentanyl and oxycodone, were desperately needed.

"Although opioids are effective in producing pain relief, they come with unwanted side-effects like nausea, constipation and the risk of addiction, placing a huge burden on society," Dr Schroeder said.

"Our study found that a mini-protein in tarantula venom from the Chinese bird spider, known as Huwentoxin-IV, binds to pain receptors in the body.

"By using a three-pronged approach in our drug design that incorporates the mini-protein, its receptor and the surrounding membrane from the spider venom, we've altered this mini-protein resulting in greater potency and specificity for specific pain receptors.

"This ensures that just the right amount of the mini-protein attaches itself to the receptor and the cell membrane surrounding the pain receptors."

Dr Schroeder said the mini-protein had been tested in mouse models and shown to work effectively.

"Our findings could potentially lead to an alternative method of treating pain without the side-effects and reduce many individuals' reliance on opioids for pain relief," she said.

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Story Source:

Materials provided by University of Queensland. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Akello J. Agwa, Poanna Tran, Alexander Mueller, Hue N. T. Tran, Jennifer R. Deuis, Mathilde R. Israel, Kirsten L. McMahon, David J. Craik, Irina Vetter, Christina I. Schroeder. Manipulation of a spider peptide toxin alters its affinity for lipid bilayers and potency and selectivity for voltage-gated sodium channel subtype 1.7. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 2020; 295 (15): 5067 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.RA119.012281

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University of Queensland. "Spider venom key to pain relief without side-effects." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 14 April 2020. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/04/200414105558.htm>.
University of Queensland. (2020, April 14). Spider venom key to pain relief without side-effects. ScienceDaily. Retrieved October 20, 2022 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/04/200414105558.htm
University of Queensland. "Spider venom key to pain relief without side-effects." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/04/200414105558.htm (accessed October 20, 2022).

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