When the Endogenous Hallucinogenic Trace AmineN,N-Dimethyltryptamine Meets the Sigma-1 Receptor
Tsung‐ping Su, Teruo Hayashi, D. Bruce Vaupel
Science Signaling March 10, 2009 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.261pe12 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | 5-MeO-DMT DMT |
| Keywords | Hallucinogen Endogeny Pharmacology Receptor Biochemistry |
| Citations | 110 |
| Key points | Proposes that DMT's binding to sigma-1 receptors may contribute to its psychedelic action through a hypothetical signaling scheme. |
Abstract
N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is a hallucinogen found endogenously in human brain that is commonly recognized to target the 5-hydroxytryptamine 2A receptor or the trace amine-associated receptor to exert its psychedelic effect. DMT has been recently shown to bind sigma-1 receptors, which are ligand-regulated molecular chaperones whose function includes inhibiting various voltage-sensitive ion channels. Thus, it is possible that the psychedelic action of DMT might be mediated in part through sigma-1 receptors. Here, we present a hypothetical signaling scheme that might be triggered by the binding of DMT to sigma-1 receptors.