The near-death experience of delta opioid receptors leads to new drug targets

Petäjä-Repo et al. have published a recent article describing how ligands for delta opioid receptors can facilitate the maturation of delta opioid receptors at the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and promote the surface expression of these receptors. Indeed, even antagonists of the receptor can promote receptor maturation. Bartlett and Whistler discuss the findings within the article and how chaperones can rescue immature receptors from proteasome-dependent degradation. Pharmacological interventions can be designed that target immature ER-bound receptors, and subsequently, facilitate their maturation or degradation to ameliorate pathological conditions associated with abnormal surface expression of receptors