36th Annual Student Research Conference
Quantifying Mitragynine Binding to the Mu Opioid Receptor in a Xenopus Oocyte System
Danielle E. Illy* and Allison Roberts
Dr. Yohei Norimatsu (A.T. Still University) and Dr. Stephen Hudman, Faculty Mentors
Kratom, a plant native to Southeast Asia, has been used for pain relief as an herbal medicine. Mitragynine, an alkaloid derived from kratom, is believed to serve as the active compound for this pain reducing effect, through binding to the opioid receptors mu, delta and kappa. Using two electrode voltage-clamp electrophysiology, we have measured the changes in electronegativity caused by the binding of mitragynine to the mu opioid receptor (OPRM1) using the G-protein coupled receptor pathway between OPRM1 and the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator. By comparing the reactions to mitragynine to that of DAMGO, a known full agonist of OPRM1, we are able to provide supporting evidence for mitragynine’s binding affinity to OPRM1, as well as examining the ability to conduct opioid based research using a single cell Xenopus oocyte electrophysiology model.
Keywords: electrophysiology, mitragynine , kratom , opioids , cystic fibrosis
Topic(s):Biology
Presentation Type: Poster Presentation
Session: 4-3
Location: Student Union Building Activities Room
Time: 3:00