Long road to building a better painkiller gets boost at U of S synchrotron
The dream is a big one: making opioid painkillers that are less addictive and adapting opioids into other medicines such as antibiotics and cancer treatments.
That dream is still years away from becoming reality. But it's one important step closer after groundbreaking research at the Canadian Light Source (CLS) at the University of Saskatchewan.
Dr. Ken Ng, a professor at the University of Windsor and adjunct professor at the University of Calgary, and Sam Carr, a PhD student from the University of Calgary, worked with Peter Facchini’s group at the University of Calgary to better understand how natural opiates are produced.
They focused on the enzyme codeinone reductase (COR), which is used in the last stage of opiate production in poppies. The researchers used the CMCF beamline to map out a 3D structure of COR.
They found that part of its structure is unique compared to related enzymes. Armed with this blueprint, they can start to modify that structure to change the enzyme's properties.
However, enzyme engineering is hard to do, Carr said.
"We have a three-dimensional structure and we can start looking at where things are, and try to change things and what happens is that we change things and it doesn't really do what we thought it would. So it's a very iterative process."
Still, knowing COR's structure has already allowed the team to make a small, successful change to how it works.
"I think it's misleading if people expect, 'oh, we'll have a better form of morphine in five years' or something. That's almost guaranteed not to happen," Ng said.
"But by understanding these things, at least you have a start towards changing these things in ways that you can't really do in a poppy or natural plants that make these kinds of drugs."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Israel attacks Iran, Reuters sources say; drones reported over Isfahan
Israel has attacked Iran, three people familiar with the matter told Reuters, as Iranian state media reported early on Friday that its forces had destroyed drones, days after Iran launched a retaliatory drone strike on Israel.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Nearly half of China's major cities are sinking, researchers say
Nearly half of China's major cities are suffering 'moderate to severe' levels of subsidence, putting millions at risk of flooding especially as sea levels rise.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.
Judge says 'no evidence fully supports' murder case against Umar Zameer as jury starts deliberations
The judge presiding over the trial of a man accused of fatally running over a Toronto police officer is telling jurors the possible verdicts they may reach based on the evidence in the case.
Health Canada to change sperm donor screening rules for men who have sex with men
Health Canada will change its longstanding policy restricting gay and bisexual men from donating to sperm banks in Canada, CTV News has learned. The federal health agency has adopted a revised directive removing the ban on gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, effective May 8.
Colin Jost names one celebrity who is great at hosting 'Saturday Night Live'
Colin Jost, who co-anchors Saturday Night Live's 'Weekend Update,' revealed who he thinks is one of the best hosts on the show.
Sports columnist apologizes for 'oafish' comments directed at Caitlin Clark. The controversy isn't over
A male columnist has apologized for a cringeworthy moment during former University of Iowa superstar and college basketball's highest scorer Caitlin Clark's first news conference as an Indiana Fever player.
'Shopaholic' author Sophie Kinsella reveals brain cancer diagnosis
Sophie Kinsella, the best-selling author behind the 'Shopaholic' book series, has revealed that she is receiving treatment for brain cancer.