U.S. scientists have discovered proteins that feel blood pressure

U.S. scientists have discovered a protein that "feels" blood pressure and "tells" when small arteries are dilated, promising to treat isothermic stroke by activating it.
, published in the latest issue of
, shows that "G protein-coupled receptor 68" (GPCR68) is a mechanical stimulation receptor that is essential for the vascular system to perform the function of "blood flow-mediated expansion". Impaired "blood flow-mediated dilation" is a precursor to various cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension and atherosclerosis.
"G protein conjunctivity receptor" is a class of membrane protein receptors, the study of this receptor won the 2012 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
researchers designed a liquid turbulence meter that simulates blood flow motion, using 384 pistons to press cells placed in 384 grooves by squeezing liquid, then knocking out candidate genes for cells in each groove to screen, and finally finding that the "G protein coupled receptor 68" has a pressure-feeling function.
researchers say that when small arteries fail to expand properly, the ability to lower blood pressure is impaired by high blood pressure or vascular stenosis caused by atherosclerosis, which can lead to ishemia strokes.
next step is to study how small molecule drugs can regulate the function of the protein for clinical treatment, said Adam Patabotian, a professor at the Scripps Institute in the United States and senior author of the paper. (Source: Xinhua News Agency Zhou Zhou)