Research: Nicotine Exploits COPI to Foster Addiction

Researchers have always wondered how nicotine fosters addiction in individuals.

Unexpectedly, the researchers discovered that nicotine's ability to up-regulate* nAChRs relied on the retrograde transport of ∝6* nAChRs back from the Golgi to the ER by COPI-coated vesicles. The authors believe that Golgi-ER cycling (involving COPI vesicles) may be a common mechanism for up-regulation of other nAChRs by nicotine. Manipulation of this process could therefore help form new strategies for smoking cessation and neuroprotection against Parkinson's disease.

Source: Eurekalert