When the Endogenous Hallucinogenic Trace AmineN,N-Dimethyltryptamine Meets the Sigma-1 Receptor
Science Signaling March 10, 2009 Tsung‐ping Su, Teruo Hayashi, D. Bruce Vaupel 110 citations
DMT, a hallucinogen naturally found in the human brain, is known to act through serotonin and trace amine receptors to produce its psychedelic effects. Recent evidence shows DMT also binds to sigma-1 receptors, which are molecular chaperones that regulate ion channels. This suggests sigma-1 receptors may partially mediate DMT's psychedelic action. The authors propose a hypothetical signaling pathway triggered by DMT binding to sigma-1 receptors.