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| Subject Categories:
Signal Transduction
| Neuroscience
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The EMBO Journal
(2004) 23, 3282–3289, doi:10.1038/sj.emboj.7600334 Published online 22 July 2004
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Morphine induces terminal -opioid receptor desensitization by sustained phosphorylation of serine-375 |
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Stefan Schulz, Dana Mayer, Manuela Pfeiffer, Ralf Stumm, Thomas Koch and Volker Höllt
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Institut für Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Otto-von-Guericke-Universität, Magdeburg, Germany
To whom correspondence should be addressed
Stefan Schulz, Department of Pharmacology, Institut für Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Otto-von-Guericke-Universität, Leipziger Strasse 44, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany. Tel.: +49 391 6715 881; Fax: +49 391 6715 869; E-mail: stefan.schulz@medizin.uni-magdeburg.de
Received 27 February 2004; Accepted 24 June 2004; Published online 22 July 2004.
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| Abstract |
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Morphine is a poor inducer of -opioid receptor (MOR) internalization, but a potent inducer of cellular tolerance. Here we show that, in contrast to full agonists such as [D-Ala2-MePhe4-Gly-ol]enkephalin (DAMGO), morphine stimulated a selective phosphorylation of the carboxy-terminal residue 375 (Ser375). Ser375 phosphorylation was sufficient and required for morphine-induced desensitization of MOR. In the presence of full agonists, morphine revealed partial agonistic properties and potently inhibited MOR phosphorylation and internalization. Upon removal of the drug, DAMGO-desensitized receptors were rapidly dephosphorylated. In contrast, morphine-desensitized receptors remained at the plasma membrane in a Ser375-phosphorylated state for prolonged periods. Thus, morphine promotes terminal MOR desensitization by inducing a persistent modification of Ser375. |
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| Keywords: desensitization, morphine, opioid receptor, phosphorylation, tolerance |
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