The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) recently highlighted two papers featuring Susruta Majumdar, PhD, and his colleagues. The Chemistry and Pharmacology Branch of the Division of Neuroscience and Behavior highlighted these articles. This branch of NIDA supports research on all aspects of chemistry and pharmacology affected by addictive drugs.
The first paper “Structure-based design of bitopic ligands for the µ-opioid receptor” published in Nature on November 30, 2022. This research has identified a method for modifying the chemical properties of the opioid pain reliever, fentanyl, and altering how it binds to opioid receptors on nerve cells. This research offers potential avenues for the creation of safer opioid medications. The second paper “Insights into distinct signaling profiles of the µOR activated by diverse agonists” published in Nature Chemical Biology on November 21, 2022. This paper highlights the work of Susruta Majumdar, and his colleagues who examined the molecular differences between LFT and MP, and how they bind to MU opioid receptors.
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