"Nanoscale analysis of membrane proteins in neurodegeneration and pain"
Chronic pain is a global health concern that affects ~20% of the adult population, with opioids commonly prescribed for pain relief. This reliance on opiates poses a significant risk as a driver for worldwide addiction and misuse, motivating the need for a safer and effective therapeutic strategy. The binding of nerve growth factor (NGF) to the receptor tyrosine kinase TrkA is vital for neuronal growth, development, and maintenance (Neurotrophic outcomes). This pathway activation also triggers chronic pain. Using single-molecule microscopy approaches, experimental and computational structural studies, and quantitative signaling assays, I will discuss the molecular mechanism of regulation of TrkA:NGF axis and how mutations in this pathway lead to altered physiological outcomes. Our work is laying the groundwork to harness this pathway for chronic pain management.
