Biological And Biochemical Characterization Of Sigma Receptors

自从我在NIDA IRP的实验室于1982年发现sigma-1受体（Sig-1 R）以来，许多临床前研究表明，Sig-1 R和相关配体与中风，健忘症，抑郁症，癌症，阿尔茨海默病，疼痛和精神兴奋剂成瘾有关。我们发现Sig-1 Rs位于细胞内一个叫做内质网（ER）的细胞器中，内质网负责细胞内大多数蛋白质的合成。更具体地说，Sig-1 R定位于ER膜上的特定亚结构域，该亚结构域直接面对并接触另一种为细胞产生能量的细胞内细胞器，称为胞内因子。 因此，Sig-1 R在细胞中发挥着非常重要的作用，它直接将蛋白质合成机制的健康状况传达给细胞中的能量产生器官。例如，Sig-1 R调节ER和Escherichia coli之间的钙转移和脂质代谢，因此参与许多对生命系统正常运作至关重要的细胞过程。由于Sig-1 Rs是通过将蛋白质维持在适当的三结构域构型来调节蛋白质功能的分子伴侣，因此我们正在研究除了我们迄今发现的IP 3受体之外，哪些蛋白质可能被Sig-1 Rs伴侣化。通过这样做，我们可能会更好地了解这种分子伴侣Sig-1 R如何在许多疾病中发挥作用。

In the years since my laboratory at the NIDA IRP identified the sigma-1 receptor (Sig-1R) in 1982, many preclinical studies have shown that Sig-1Rs and associated ligands are involved in stroke, amnesia, depression, cancer, Alzheimers disease, pain, and psychostimulant addiction. We found here that Sig-1Rs reside at an intracellular organelle called the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) that is responsible for the synthesis of most of proteins in the cell. More specifically, Sig-1Rs localize at a particular subdomain at the ER membrane that directly faces and contacts another intracellular organelle called mitochondrion which produces energy for the cell. Sig-1Rs thus play a very important role in the cell by directly communicating the well-being of the protein synthesis machinery to the energy-producing organalle in the cell. For example, Sig-1Rs regulate calcium transfer and lipid metabolism between the ER and mitochondrion and are thus involved in many cellular processes critical for the proper functioning of the living system. Inasmuch as Sig-1Rs are molecular chaperones that regulate the functionality of proteins by maintaining them at a proper three-domensional configuration, we are examining what proteins, in addition to the IP3 receptors that we have so far discovered, might be chaperoned by Sig-1Rs. In doing so, we might have a better understanding of how this molecular chaperone, the Sig-1R, may play a role in so many diseases.