Preparation for the vaccine

A step has been taken to create an effective method of quitting smoking

Olga Ivanova, Naked Science

The work was published in the journal Nature Chemical Biology (Dulchavsky et al., A cytochrome c is the natural electron acceptor for nicotine oxidoreductase). In 2018, sensational studies on nicotine-dependent rats showed that rodents get rid of their ailment when a form of an enzyme called NicA2, created in the laboratory, is injected into their body (it occurs naturally in bacteria found in tobacco fields).

By modifying the structure of the enzyme, scientists have come closer to creating a so-called smoking vaccine. The initial study showed that even withdrawal syndrome was not observed in rats when it was administered, and nicotine addiction went away forever.

But further study of the issue revealed problems: the enzyme decomposed nicotine so slowly that it had to be used in huge quantities to see the positive effect. Therefore, adequate use of NicA2 by humans was difficult.

To decompose nicotine, this enzyme requires an electron acceptor. Oxygen was considered such. However, scientists from the University of Michigan (USA) found that it is not an electron acceptor for NicA2 at all. Instead, the researchers found a cytochrome protein that is part of the electron transport chain and is used to generate energy in cells.

Scientists identified him as a natural electron acceptor. The experiment showed that when using cytochrome protein as an electron acceptor, much less NicA2 enzyme is required to level nicotine dependence, which can be called a promising result.

However, studies of the enzyme do not stop there: you still need to understand why it does not cause withdrawal syndrome, and also check the results in practice. But even today, scientists are inspired by the discovery, because it brings science closer to creating a real "vaccination" against nicotine addiction.

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