Tue, Jan 12, 2010 For years researchers have been trying to figure out which endogenous neurotransmitter might bind to a specific type called the 'sigma-1' receptor. About a year ago they finally found out:
It'd be especially interesting if we don't find any other weird endogenous ligands that specifically have affinity for this receptor. However, don't be so sure that this activity is g-protein coupled. This research indicates the opposite. I don't know about any other research that replicates these findings yet, although it is possibly the case that g-protein coupled receptors are to be a lot more significant in the way you mentioned with DMT's interaction at the 5HT2-A receptor and maybe even trace amine receptor sites. What I find interesting is what sigma-1 receptors have been implicated in having to do with: Calcium & ion channel activity (Something to do with cell survival mechanisms), and nerve growth signaling (Maybe some of you remember my post on BDNF from ages back).
For years researchers have been trying to figure out which endogenous neurotransmitter might bind to a specific type called the 'sigma-1' receptor. About a year ago they finally found out:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/12742082/Dominique-Fontanilla-et-al-The-Hallucinogen-NNDimethyltryptamine-DMT-Is-an-Endogenous-Sigma1-Receptor-Regulator
It'd be especially interesting if we don't find any other weird endogenous ligands that specifically have affinity for this receptor. However, don't be so sure that this activity is g-protein coupled. This research indicates the opposite. I don't know about any other research that replicates these findings yet, although it is possibly the case that g-protein coupled receptors are to be a lot more significant in the way you mentioned with DMT's interaction at the 5HT2-A receptor and maybe even trace amine receptor sites. What I find interesting is what sigma-1 receptors have been implicated in having to do with: Calcium & ion channel activity (Something to do with cell survival mechanisms), and nerve growth signaling (Maybe some of you remember my post on BDNF from ages back).