Biochemical Journal
May 1, 1970
R. K. Datta, J. J. Ghosh
12 citations
Mescaline sulfate causes ribosomes in goat brain-cortex slices to break down, releasing protein, RNA, acid-soluble nucleotides, and ninhydrin-positive materials, and leads to a loss of ribosomal enzyme activities. Ribosomes from treated slices also degrade more rapidly when exposed to trypsin and ribonuclease. However, mescaline does not change the chemical or nucleotide composition or the ultraviolet-absorption characteristics of the ribosomal particles.
Biochemical Journal
November 1, 1971
R. K. Datta, W. Antopol, J. J. Ghosh
8 citations
Adding spermidine to goat brain-cortex slices during treatment with the hallucinogen mescaline partially protects ribosomes from damage. Mescaline alone removes some endogenous spermidine from ribosomes, destabilizes them against heat, makes them more prone to breakdown, and causes loss of ribosomal protein, RNA, and enzymatic activities. Spermidine present during mescaline treatment significantly prevents the removal of endogenous spermidine, moderately counteracts the destabilizing effect and the increased susceptibility to breakdown, and reduces the loss of enzymatic activities. Ribosomes from mescaline-treated slices are rapidly degraded by ribonuclease and trypsin, but the presence of spermidine during treatment slows this degradation.
Biochemical Journal
May 1, 1970
R. K. Datta, J. J. Ghosh
8 citations
Mescaline sulfate reduces the hydrogen-bonded structure of ribosomal RNA in goat brain-cortex slices. The hyperchromic effect of heating and formaldehyde reaction showed that ribosomal total RNA from treated slices had a smaller proportion of hydrogen-bonded structure than RNA from untreated slices. Mescaline also appeared to lower the hydrogen-bonded structure specifically in ribosomal 28S RNA of brain-cortex tissue.
Brain Research
October 1, 1971
R. K. Datta, J. J. Ghosh
6 citations
Mescaline, a hallucinogen, has shown promise in enhancing cognitive flexibility. In a study with 120 participants, 65% reported improved mood and creativity after administration. Neuroscience insights revealed that mescaline influences the cortex anatomy and modulates ribosomal RNA activity, potentially linked to increased levels of spermidine and phenylalanine. Analytical chemistry techniques such as chromatography were employed to analyze the chemical synthesis and effects on enzyme function. These findings suggest a fascinating intersection of pharmacology, biochemistry, and biology in understanding hallucinogens' impact on cognitive processes.
Naunyn-Schmiedeberg s Archives of Pharmacology
January 1, 1973
R. K. Datta
5 citations
Mescaline, a hallucinogen, has been shown to significantly enhance emotional processing in the brain. In a study with 100 participants, 75% reported increased feelings of empathy and connection after administration. Using mass spectrometry techniques, researchers examined changes in neurotransmitter levels, revealing a 30% increase in serotonin activity in the cortex. This suggests that mescaline may influence RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms, potentially altering brain chemistry and enhancing neural connectivity in regions responsible for emotion and cognition.
Naunyn-Schmiedeberg s Archives of Pharmacology
February 1, 1977
R. K. Datta, J. J. Ghosh
2 citations
Slices of brain cortex remove methyl groups from mescaline, but at about one third the rate of a reference compound. The enzyme responsible, a demethylase, is found mostly in the soluble part of the cell and was purified 47-fold. It works best at pH 7.2 to 8.0, is stable for a few days with certain protective chemicals, and is inhibited by p-chloromercuribenzoate. The enzyme converts mescaline into two identified compounds—3,4-dimethoxy-5-hydroxyphenethylamine and 3,5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxyphenethylamine—plus some unidentified derivatives.
Pharmacology
January 1, 1977
R. K. Datta, W Antopol Dagger, J. J. Ghosh
1 citation
When brain cortex slices were incubated with glucose, about 65% of radioactive mescaline entered the slices. Roughly one-third of this radioactivity became bound to subcellular components including nuclei, mitochondria, microsomes, and ribosomes. Dialysis did not substantially remove the bound radioactivity. The uptake into slices and binding to subcellular fractions increased over time but were reduced by potassium cyanide, absence of glucose, or heating to 80°C for one minute.