Researchers Found The THC Receptor In The Brain; Responsible For Psychoactive Effect

More and more scientists are studying the effects of marijuana. This controversial plant wants to be legalized by many. Currently, a team of experts found the receptor of the cannabinoid which is part of the marijuana plant in the brain.

The THC, part of the marijuana plant that is responsible for the psychoactive and mild altering effect has been studied by experts since the mechanism is quite unclear. They investigate on how the THC binds to a specific cannabinoid receptor in the brain that produces the "HIGH" effect while using the marijuana.

Experts uncovered the structure of cannabinoid receptor (CB1) that can be found on the surface of many nerve cells in the brain. Professor of Biological Science and Chemistry at the University of Southern California study co-author Raymond Stevens and the team have discovered on how does THC and synthetic cannabinoids bind to the receptor, by using a 3-D model of the receptor.

In the experiment, researchers found that the CB1 receptor is the main target of the THC and synthetic cannabinoids, which is a man-made substance that copies the effect of THC. The team of researchers focused on studying more about the structure of the receptor and how it works with the definite molecules that the experts synthesized. AM6538 - a molecule is known to tightly bind to and stabilize CB1 - and applied it to the CB1 receptor. They were enabled to determine the structure of the receptor.

Raymond Stevens said that "Researchers are fascinated by how you can make changes in THC or synthetic cannabinoids and have such different effects," says Stevens. "Now that we finally have the structure of CB1, we can start to understand how these changes to the drug structure can affect the receptor," according to phys.org. 

As follows,  the team were able to get the detail of understanding of how the THC and synthetic work with the receptor to produce mild altering effects with the help of the 3D model of CB1. For example, the team said the marijuana-based medication that was developed to treat obesity, they found that the molecules in the drugs have somehow a triggering effect on depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts, according to Medical News Today.

IHuman Institute at ShanghaiTech University in China, co-lead author Prof. Zhi-Jie Liu said that We need to understand how marijuana works in our bodies. It can have both therapeutic potential and recreational use, but cannabinoids can also be very dangerous. By doing both the basic science and understanding how this receptor works, we can then use it to help people in the future."