Wasabi may be good for something other than sushi.
Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, recently uncovered the structure of the protein behind the burning sensation when people eat wasabi, which could improve future pain medications, according to CBS Local.
The protein, TRPA1, allows the body to detect certain chemical agents outside of our bodies, according to the Huffington Post.
“The pain system is there to warn us when we need to avoid things that can cause injury, but also to enhance protective mechanisms,” Dr. David Julius, professor and chair of the physiology department at the University of California, San Francisco, and senior co-author of the study, said in a statement.
First Look at 'Wasabi Receptor' Brings Insights for Pain Drug Development http://t.co/PgeIWEg5UR pic.twitter.com/xUzIYwfWMe
— Neuroscience News (@NeuroscienceNew) April 8, 2015
“Of course, this information may also help guide the design of new analgesic drugs.”
Researchers have shown that the protein receptors begin sending distress signals to the brain whenever they encounter chemical irritants, according to NPR. Initially, when Julius attempted to create an image of the TRPA1 structure a decade ago, it would reportedly turn out fuzzy.
“But in the last few years, this technique has undergone a revolutionary leap forward,” stated Yifan Cheng, a biochemist who is an expert in single particle electron cryomicroscopy.
Scientists have reportedly been trying to find out the structure of TRPA1 in order to discover a more effective pain relief for a while now.
“What the structure does is, it gives pharmaceutical firms sort of a map for either tweaking the drugs that they have or for developing drugs that might have different properties,” stated Julius.
“A dream of mine is that some of the work we do will translate into medicines people can take for chronic pain.”
