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Scientists get a close-up of opioid receptors - 2
Narrator: This is NIH health matters, I’m Joe Balintfy. Scientists have crystallized several types of opioid receptors, proteins in the brain that modulate mood and pain perception. Dr. Jean Chin at the NIH says crystallization enables scientists to take pictures of the receptors so that their structures can be studied.
Chin: A picture is worth a thousand words. Everyone says that and it's really true. But we have to keep in mind it’s only one picture what you really want is a movie.
Narrator: Dr. Chin adds, the pictures could help scientists understand why some opiate-based drugs like morphine and heroin have the potential to become addictive. For more information on opioid receptors, visit www.nigms.nih.gov. Health Matters is produced by the National Institutes of Health, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
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