What is the latest discovery at the Jonas Salk Institute to treat alcoholism?
The Salk Institute, a not-for-profit organization, was founded by Dr. Jonas Salk, who discovered the Polio vaccine and chose to distribute it throughout the world, without proprietary concern, to eradicate the disease. A research team including a Nepali, Prafulla Aryal, of the Salk Institute of Biological Sciences in La Jolla, California, has located the alcohol-binding site in the brain that could help treat alcoholism. After locating a potential alcohol-binding site in the brain, Aryal systematically introduced amino acid substitutions to the site to deny alcohol molecules access to the site. With the introduction of the substitution, alcohol no longer had its effect confirming that the portion of the brain being worked on was indeed instrumental in binding alcohol. This site is also responsible for the brain’s response to epileptic seizures. This study is the closest scientists have come to understanding how alcohol affects the brain. With the finding, “it may be possible to develop
salk institute Researchers track how alcohol alters brain cells Washington, June 29 (IANS) Alcohol’s intoxicating effects are universally known, but its impact on brain activity remains shrouded in mystery. Now researchers have edged closer to unravelling how alcohol alters the way … Sources: www.thaindian.
A team of researchers, with Nepali-born Prafulla Aryal as key member, of the Salk Institute of Biological Sciences in La Jolla, California, has located the alcohol-binding site in the brain that could pave the way to a whole new approach to treating alcoholism, drug addiction, abuse-related brain diseases, and epilepsy.
