Note to users. If you're seeing this message, it means that your browser cannot find this page's style/presentation instructions -- or possibly that you are using a browser that does not support current Web standards. Find out more about why this message is appearing, and what you can do to make your experience of our site the best it can be.
Science Careers Booklet

Site Tools

  • AAAS
  • Subscribe
  • Feedback

Site Search

Search Advanced

Sci. STKE, 9 November 2004
Vol. 2004, Issue 258, p. tw406
[DOI: 10.1126/stke.2582004tw406]

EDITORS' CHOICE

RECEPTORS The Molecules Behind Nicotine Addiction

Identification of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subtypes that are critical for nicotine dependence will provide insight into addiction mechanisms and should also help to identify potential smoking-cessation targets. Tapper et al. (see the Perspective by Hogg and Bertrand) engineered genetically modified mice in which nicotinic {alpha}4 receptors were hypersensitive to nicotine. A range of cellular assays and simple behavioral procedures showed that nicotinic activation of {alpha}4 nAChRs is sufficient to explain the development of sensitization and tolerance and also to explain the rewarding effects of nicotine.

A. R. Tapper, S. L. McKinney, R. Nashmi, J. Schwarz, P. Deshpande, C. Labarca, P. Whiteaker, M. J. Marks, A. C. Collins, H. A. Lester, Nicotine activation of {alpha}4* receptors: Sufficient for reward, tolerance, and sensitization. Science 306, 1029-1032 (2004). [Abstract] [Full Text]

R. C. Hogg, D. Bertrand, What genes tell us about nicotine addiction. Science 306, 983-985 (2004). [Summary] [Full Text]

Citation: The Molecules Behind Nicotine Addiction. Sci. STKE 2004, tw406 (2004).

ADVERTISEMENT
Click Me!

ADVERTISEMENT
Click Me!

To Advertise     Find Products

Science Signaling. ISSN 1937-9145 (pre-2008: Science's STKE. ISSN 1525-8882)