By Erin Flynn, Western Michigan University — MedicalXPress — 12 January 2021
New research from Western Michigan University lays the groundwork for a potential solution to nicotine addiction using enzymes to degrade nicotine in the body without adverse effects. The research, published in Nature Chemical Biology, corrects a fatal flaw in a 2018 animal study. Researchers found that the NicA2 enzyme uses a cytochrome protein — not molecular oxygen as previously assumed — as its natural electron acceptor. This discovery means far less of the enzyme is needed to achieve beneficial effects, making it potentially translatable to humans. “If they’re being treated with this enzyme during a re-exposure event, the nicotine would not actually reach their brain, which would prevent them from becoming addicted once again,” said Dr. Ricky Stull.