Some Like it Hot! Structure of Receptor for Chili Pepper and Pain Revealed

You can now not only taste the spicy kick of a jalapeno pepper, you can also see it in full 3D.

Using sophisticated equipment, a research team led by Theodore G. Wensel, Ph.D., Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at BCM, generated the first three dimensional view of the protein that allows you to sense the heat of a hot pepper.

"This protein, known as TRPV1, not only senses spicy foods, but also makes it possible to feel real heat and the pain and inflammation related to other medical conditions," said Wensel. "This method of viewing the protein now gives us the chance to clearly see the functional relationship between outside stimuli—in this case the heat of a chili pepper—and the nerve cell."

"Visualization of TRPV1 gives us insight on other TRP channels since they are structurally similar," said Vera Moiseenkova-Bell, Ph.D., a Postdoctoral Associate in Wensel's laboratory. "Pharmaceutical companies target these TRP channels to make sure the drug binds properly. With this first structure we can start to build models of binding sites and hopefully in the future design more effective pharmaceuticals for a wide range of medical conditions."

Features

Treatments on the Horizon: Chapter and Verse on a Brain Killer

Keeping Teen Dads Involved

Fellow Travelers: The Human Microbiome Project Explores how our Bodies Co-exist with 1 Trillion Foreign Cells

Two Brains are Better than One

Spotlight

Science as a Way of Life

DeBakey Takes the Gold

Caring for Community at Home and Abroad

Injecting a Little Scientist in Every Doctor

Designing a Building in the Eyes of a Researcher

Laser Treatments Best Left up to Doctors

Briefs

Falls in Elderly Indicate Illness

Gut-wrenching Facts on Colic

Findings may Increase Survival after Injuries

Some Like it Hot! Structure of Receptor for Chili Pepper and Pain Revealed

Beware of Drinking Margaritas in the Sun

Beetle-Mania

Development/Alumni

BCM Family Participates in Fundraising Campaign

BCM Alums take D.C. Fellowships

Seed Funding Leads to Breakthroughs

Father, Daughter Team up for Health Care

Steps to Discovery and Innovation

Volume 4, Issue 2, Summer 2008

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