opioid receptor mu 1
Last updated 6 Sept 2023
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The OPRM1 gene provides instructions for making a protein called the mu (μ) opioid receptor. Opioid receptors are part of the endogenous opioid system, which is the body's internal system for regulating pain, reward, and addictive behaviors. It consists of opioid substances produced naturally within the body (called endogenous opioids) and their receptors, into which opioids fit like keys into locks. Opioid receptors are found in the nervous system, where they are embedded in the outer membrane of nerve cells (neurons). When opioids attach (bind) to the receptors, the interaction triggers a series of chemical changes within and between neurons that lead to feelings of pleasure and pain relief.
Normal function
The OPRM1 gene provides instructions for making a protein called the mu (μ) opioid receptor. Opioid receptors are part of the endogenous opioid system, which is the body's internal system for regulating pain, reward, and addictive behaviors. It consists of opioid substances produced naturally within the body (called endogenous opioids) and their receptors, into which opioids fit like keys into locks. Opioid receptors are found in the nervous system, where they are embedded in the outer membrane of nerve cells (neurons). When opioids attach (bind) to the receptors, the interaction triggers a series of chemical changes within and between neurons that lead to feelings of pleasure and pain relief.
The μ opioid receptor was the first opioid receptor to be discovered. It is the primary receptor for endogenous opioids called beta-endorphin and enkephalins, which help regulate the body's response to pain, among other functions. The μ opioid receptor is also the binding site for many opioids introduced from outside the body (called exogenous opioids). These include commonly prescribed pain medications such as oxycodone, fentanyl, buprenorphine, methadone, oxymorphone, hydrocodone, codeine, and morphine, as well as illegal opioid drugs such as heroin.
When endogenous or exogenous opioids bind to the μ opioid receptor, the interaction triggers a cascade of chemical signals in the nervous system. These signals reduce the activity (excitability) of neurons in certain areas of the brain, which leads to pain relief and feelings of pleasure and intense happiness (euphoria). In addition, the chemical signaling ultimately increases the production of a chemical called dopamine. Dopamine is a chemical messenger (neurotransmitter) that helps regulate areas of the brain involved in reward-seeking behaviour, attention, and mood.
Conditions referring to this gene or chromosome
Other names
LMOR
M-OR-1
MOP
MOR
MOR-1
MOR1
mu opiate receptor
mu opioid receptor hMOR-1a
OPRM
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Further reading and references
- opioid receptor mu 1; MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine.
- Bonenberger M, Plener PL, Groschwitz RC, Gron G, Abler B. Polymorphism in the micro-opioid receptor gene (OPRM1) modulates neural processing of physical pain, social rejection and error processing. Exp Brain Res. 2015 Sep;233(9):2517-26. doi: 10.1007/s00221-015-4322-9. Epub 2015 May 28.
- Crist RC, Berrettini WH. Pharmacogenetics of OPRM1. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2014 Aug;123:25-33. doi: 10.1016/j.pbb.2013.10.018. Epub 2013 Nov 5.
- Davis C, Zai C, Levitan RD, Kaplan AS, Carter JC, Reid-Westoby C, Curtis C, Wight K, Kennedy JL. Opiates, overeating and obesity: a psychogenetic analysis. Int J Obes (Lond). 2011 Oct;35(10):1347-54. doi: 10.1038/ijo.2010.276. Epub 2011 Jan 25.
- Garriock HA, Tanowitz M, Kraft JB, Dang VC, Peters EJ, Jenkins GD, Reinalda MS, McGrath PJ, von Zastrow M, Slager SL, Hamilton SP. Association of mu-opioid receptor variants and response to citalopram treatment in major depressive disorder. Am J Psychiatry. 2010 May;167(5):565-73. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2009.08081167. Epub 2010 Mar 1.
- Haerian BS, Haerian MS. OPRM1 rs1799971 polymorphism and opioid dependence: evidence from a meta-analysis. Pharmacogenomics. 2013 May;14(7):813-24. doi: 10.2217/pgs.13.57.
- Pasternak G, Pan YX. Mu opioid receptors in pain management. Acta Anaesthesiol Taiwan. 2011 Mar;49(1):21-5. doi: 10.1016/j.aat.2010.12.008. Epub 2011 Mar 17.
- Pasternak GW, Pan YX. Mu opioids and their receptors: evolution of a concept. Pharmacol Rev. 2013 Sep 27;65(4):1257-317. doi: 10.1124/pr.112.007138. Print 2013.
- Reed B, Butelman ER, Yuferov V, Randesi M, Kreek MJ. Genetics of opiate addiction. Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2014 Nov;16(11):504. doi: 10.1007/s11920-014-0504-6.
- Schwantes-An TH, Zhang J, Chen LS, Hartz SM, Culverhouse RC, Chen X, Coon H, Frank J, Kamens HM, Konte B, Kovanen L, Latvala A, Legrand LN, Maher BS, Melroy WE, Nelson EC, Reid MW, Robinson JD, Shen PH, Yang BZ, Andrews JA, Aveyard P, Beltcheva O, Brown SA, Cannon DS, Cichon S, Corley RP, Dahmen N, Degenhardt L, Foroud T, Gaebel W, Giegling I, Glatt SJ, Grucza RA, Hardin J, Hartmann AM, Heath AC, Herms S, Hodgkinson CA, Hoffmann P, Hops H, Huizinga D, Ising M, Johnson EO, Johnstone E, Kaneva RP, Kendler KS, Kiefer F, Kranzler HR, Krauter KS, Levran O, Lucae S, Lynskey MT, Maier W, Mann K, Martin NG, Mattheisen M, Montgomery GW, Muller-Myhsok B, Murphy MF, Neale MC, Nikolov MA, Nishita D, Nothen MM, Nurnberger J, Partonen T, Pergadia ML, Reynolds M, Ridinger M, Rose RJ, Rouvinen-Lagerstrom N, Scherbaum N, Schmal C, Soyka M, Stallings MC, Steffens M, Treutlein J, Tsuang M, Wall TL, Wodarz N, Yuferov V, Zill P, Bergen AW, Chen J, Cinciripini PM, Edenberg HJ, Ehringer MA, Ferrell RE, Gelernter J, Goldman D, Hewitt JK, Hopfer CJ, Iacono WG, Kaprio J, Kreek MJ, Kremensky IM, Madden PA, McGue M, Munafo MR, Philibert RA, Rietschel M, Roy A, Rujescu D, Saarikoski ST, Swan GE, Todorov AA, Vanyukov MM, Weiss RB, Bierut LJ, Saccone NL. Association of the OPRM1 Variant rs1799971 (A118G) with Non-Specific Liability to Substance Dependence in a Collaborative de novo Meta-Analysis of European-Ancestry Cohorts. Behav Genet. 2016 Mar;46(2):151-69. doi: 10.1007/s10519-015-9737-3. Epub 2015 Sep 21.
- Walter C, Doehring A, Oertel BG, Lotsch J. micro-opioid receptor gene variant OPRM1 118 A>G: a summary of its molecular and clinical consequences for pain. Pharmacogenomics. 2013 Nov;14(15):1915-25. doi: 10.2217/pgs.13.187.
- Xu J, Lu Z, Xu M, Pan L, Deng Y, Xie X, Liu H, Ding S, Hurd YL, Pasternak GW, Klein RJ, Cartegni L, Zhou W, Pan YX. A heroin addiction severity-associated intronic single nucleotide polymorphism modulates alternative pre-mRNA splicing of the mu opioid receptor gene OPRM1 via hnRNPH interactions. J Neurosci. 2014 Aug 13;34(33):11048-66. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3986-13.2014.
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