( One traditional approach to pharmaceuti...)Second messenger NAADP shows fast, dose-related impact on satiety cycle

One traditional approach to pharmaceutical design uses so-called "first messengers" ?hormones, other natural facilitators or synthetic products ?to initiate various cellular cascades for the desired physiological effect. To date, despite concerted efforts at all levels of research, this approach has failed to develop a truly successful obesity drug to address this major global health problem.

Enter a recently discovered and already controversial natural molecule called nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NAADP), which is active in cells from plants to humans. NAADP is thought to be a so-called "second messenger," because it works from inside cells, rather than externally. However its mode operation remains unknown ?and controversial in several aspects.

Results of a new study "establishes NAADP as a new second messenger, and the study of this novel molecule has potential to extend its clinical significance, possibly as a candidate for treating obesity," according to the lead author, Michiko Yamasaki at the Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford, United Kingdom.

Yamasaki is presenting the research at the 35th Congress of the International Union of Physiological Sciences in San Diego, March 31 - April 5, 2005.

*Paper presentation and "controversy" appearance: "Rapid, selective and dose-dependent elevation of the second messenger NAADP," 12:30 p.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday April 5, Physiology 932.3/board #A438. On view 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.

In addition, Ms. Yamasaki was chosen to participate in a special "controversy" session #654 of the Calcium Signaling Track on April 4 in room 29C of the Convention Center beginning at 10:30; her presentation is scheduled for 11:45 a.m.

The team working on the study was comprised of Michiko Yamasaki, Grant Churchill and Antony Galione at the Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford; Sandip Patel at University College London; and Jose M. Cancela at CNRS, Laboratoire de Neur
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Source:American Physiological Society

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