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Updated: Aug 23, 2026

Tracking Drug-induced Changes in Receptor Post-internalization Trafficking by Colocalizational Analysis
Published on: July 3, 2015
Mu opioid receptor: a gateway to drug addiction
Candice Contet1, Brigitte L Kieffer, Katia Befort
1Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, CNRS/INSERM/ULP, UMR7104, Parc d'Innovation, 1 rue Laurent Fries BP 10142, 67404 Illkirch Cedex, Strasbourg, France.
Abstract:
Mu opioid receptors mediate positive reinforcement following direct (morphine) or indirect (alcohol, cannabinoids, nicotine) activation, and our understanding of mu receptor function is central to the development of addiction therapies. Recent data obtained in native neurons confirm that mu receptor signaling and regulation are strongly agonist-dependent. Current functional mapping reveals morphine-activated neurons in the extended amygdala and early genomic approaches have identified novel mu receptor-associated proteins. A classification of about 30 genes either promoting or counteracting the addictive properties of morphine is proposed from the analysis of knockout mice data. The targeting of effectors or regulatory proteins, beyond the mu receptor itself, might provide valuable strategies to treat addictive disorders.
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