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Full-Text Articles in Medicine and Health Sciences
Pharmacological Properties Of Chromobacterium Violaceum Violacein At The Human Serotonin 2c Receptor, Letimicia S. Fears, Mary E. Curtis, Terrance L. Johnson, Hugh M. Fentress
Pharmacological Properties Of Chromobacterium Violaceum Violacein At The Human Serotonin 2c Receptor, Letimicia S. Fears, Mary E. Curtis, Terrance L. Johnson, Hugh M. Fentress
Biology Faculty Research
The monoamine neurotransmitter serotonin (5-HT) plays a role in many physiological responses by interacting with various receptor subtypes. The 5-HT2C receptor subtype is a 7-transmembrane, G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) that is involved in neuronal excitability, spatial learning, mood, and appetite. The microorganism Chromobacterium violaceum produces a purple pigment, violacein, which can be extracted and purified. Violacein has antibiotic, antileishmanial, antifungal and antitumoral properties in various cancer cell lines. Violacein is derived from the amino acid tryptophan as is 5-HT and therefore, the two have similar chemical structures. However, no one has reported the activity of violacein at 5-HT receptors. …