NAXD: A Potential Drug Target and Biomarker for the Treatment of Nicotine Addiction

Target Name: NAXD

NCBI ID: G55739

NAXD

NAXD: A Potential Drug Target and Biomarker for the Treatment of Nicotine Addiction

Nicotine addiction has become a significant public health concern worldwide, with an estimated 38 million smokers worldwide and thousands of non-smokers affected by secondhand smoke. The nicotine molecule has a proven addictive effect on the brain, leading to the development of various diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and neurological disorders. The present study focuses on theNAXD gene, which encodes the enzyme NAXD (6S)-6-beta-hydroxy-1,4,5,6-tetrahydrocitinamide-adenine-dinucleotide hydro-lyase (ATP-hydrolysing; NADH-forming). This gene may serve as a potential drug target or biomarker for the treatment of nicotine addiction.

The Structural and Functional Characterization of NAXD

NAXD is a member of the nucleotideases family 3.1, which includes enzymes involved in the hydrolysis of nucleotides to nucleotides. The encoded protein has a molecular weight of 43 kDa and a pre-protein N-terminus of 34 amino acids. The protein has a single known active site, which is located at the catalytic active center.

The NAXD protein has been shown to hydrolyze the nicotine molecule, which is a key step in the validation of its potential as a drug target or biomarker. The nicotine molecule has a high affinity for the NAXD enzyme, with a dissociation constant (KD) of 2.8 nM. This is higher than that of other known nucleotideases, indicating that NAXD has a unique mechanism for hydrolyzing nicotine.

The Prevalence of Nicotine Addiction and Its Implications for Healthcare

Nicotine addiction is a chronic condition that can lead to various health complications, including cardiovascular diseases, stroke, and heart failure. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that there are 3.8 million smoking-related deaths worldwide every year, with significant morbidity and economic costs associated with this statistic.

The nicotine molecule has a proven addictive effect on the brain, leading to the development of various diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and neurological disorders. The release of NAXD activity in the brain may contribute to the addictive properties of nicotine.

The Potential Therapeutic Benefits of NAXD

The NAXD gene has the potential to be a drug target or biomarker for the treatment of nicotine addiction. By inhibiting the activity of NAXD, a drug could potentially reduce the amount of nicotine available in the brain and decrease the risk of nicotine-related diseases.

In addition, NAXD may also serve as a biomarker for monitoring the effectiveness of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), such as the use of nicotine gum, lozenges, and patches. By measuring the levels of NAXD activity in the brain, a drug could potentially determine the effectiveness of NRT in reducing cravings and dependence on nicotine.

The Potential Mechanisms of Action of NAXD

The exact mechanisms of action of NAXD are not yet fully understood, but several potential mechanisms of action have been proposed.

One possible mechanism of action for NAXD is its role in the regulation of neurotransmitter release, particularly the release of dopamine. The nicotine molecule has been shown to stimulate the release of dopamine in the brain, which may contribute to its addictive properties. By inhibiting the activity of NAXD, a drug could potentially reduce the amount of nicotine available in the brain and decrease the release of dopamine, leading to reduced cravings and dependence on nicotine.

Another potential mechanism

Protein Name: NAD(P)HX Dehydratase

Functions: Catalyzes the dehydration of the S-form of NAD(P)HX at the expense of ATP, which is converted to ADP. Together with NAD(P)HX epimerase, which catalyzes the epimerization of the S- and R-forms, the enzyme allows the repair of both epimers of NAD(P)HX, a damaged form of NAD(P)H that is a result of enzymatic or heat-dependent hydration

The "NAXD Target / Biomarker Review Report" is a customizable review of hundreds up to thousends of related scientific research literature by AI technology, covering specific information about NAXD comprehensively, including but not limited to:
•   general information;
•   protein structure and compound binding;
•   protein biological mechanisms;
•   its importance;
•   the target screening and validation;
•   expression level;
•   disease relevance;
•   drug resistance;
•   related combination drugs;
•   pharmacochemistry experiments;
•   related patent analysis;
•   advantages and risks of development, etc.
The report is helpful for project application, drug molecule design, research progress updates, publication of research papers, patent applications, etc. If you are interested to get a full version of this report, please feel free to contact us at BD@silexon.ai

More Common Targets