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Degenerate perturbations of protein structure as the mechanism of anaesthetic action

Nature volume 276, pages 775–779 (1978)Cite this article

Abstract

The interaction of the n-alkanols with lipid bilayers and excitable membranes shows that there is no simple correlation between conduction block and any of the perturbations of bilayer structure currently proposed as unitary mechanisms of local anaesthetic action. We propose instead that the n-alkanols act by direct interaction with target proteins to cause perturbations which depend directly on the precise structure of the alcohol.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, National Institute for Medical Research, Mill Hill, London, NW7, UK

    C. D. Richards

  2. Department of Pharmacology, Medical School, Hills Road, Cambridge, UK

    K. Martin & S. Gregory

  3. Department of Biochemistry, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, UK

    C. A. Keightley, T. R. Hesketh, G. A. Smith, G. B. Warren & J. C. Metcalfe

Authors
  1. C. D. Richards
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  2. K. Martin
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  3. S. Gregory
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  4. C. A. Keightley
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  5. T. R. Hesketh
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  6. G. A. Smith
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  7. G. B. Warren
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  8. J. C. Metcalfe
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Richards, C., Martin, K., Gregory, S. et al. Degenerate perturbations of protein structure as the mechanism of anaesthetic action. Nature 276, 775–779 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1038/276775a0

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