Prolonging Painkillers

Morphine and other opiates dull pain, but they don't stick around for long. Enzymes known as peptidases quickly degrade these painkillers. About three years ago Researchers have found a protein in rats that can block the opiate destroying enzymes. Scientist Catherine Rougeot has been searching to find a similar peptide in humans. She found that humans secrete a molecule in their mouths that could inhibit the opiate destroying enzymes. It was identified and called YQRFSR. This peptide was slightly modified and tested in rats. The results were compelling but more research needs to be done to rule out other possible painkilling mechanisms that might be at play. If YQRFSR does indeed block the opiate destroying enzymes it could revolutionize the way that we combat pain.

http://sciencenow.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/2006/1113/3