DieQuitting smoking tops many New Year's resolutions, but when people have to fight an addiction to nicotine, it is difficult to curb. The main problem is that it often leads to withdrawal symptoms. In this regard, researchers developed a groundbreaking strategy of using enzymes to break down nicotine in the body. This allows it to be disposed of from the body system without any adverse effects.
Combat nicotine addiction caused by tobacco use
In a previous study, there was a problem with the NicA2 enzyme that breaks down nicotine. The enzyme broke down nicotine so slowly that it had to use large amounts to see all of these beneficial effects. So this could be difficult to transfer to humans. In the new research, the study authors found that people can use a cytochrome c as an electron acceptor to require far less NicA2. So the beneficial loss can combat nicotine addiction. The result could be monumental for millions of tobacco users. Most of them know that the habit is bad for their health but have difficulty quitting. In general, reintroducing nicotine into the body would trigger addiction in the brain, the study authors said. When treated with this enzyme during re-exposure, the nicotine doesn't actually reach the brain. So this would prevent people from becoming addicted again.
There's more to learn about why the enzyme can reduce blood nicotine levels without causing withdrawal. The next step in this process is for scientists to put this research into practice through testing. This allows them to better determine their viability. But the breakthrough could also have broader implications. It has been proven for the first time that oxygen is not the native electron acceptor for an enzyme in this family. Tobacco use is the most common cause of preventable disease worldwide, according to the study authors. If they develop a new treatment that could help people overcome their nicotine addiction or tobacco use, they couldthis researchhave a fairly large impact on human health.
