10/23/08: Zylka lab publishes cover article in Neuron

Congratulations to Mark Zylka, Nate Sowa and Bonnie-Taylor Blake for publishing the cover article in the October 9 issue of Neuron (www.neuron.org).  In their paper, they found the transmembrane isoform of Prostatic Acid Phosphatase (PAP) plays a critical role in pain mechanisms. PAP is expressed in pain-sensing neurons, encodes the classic histochemical marker known as TMPase (or FRAP), and functions in purine nucleotide metabolism as an ectonucleotidase.  In addition, intraspinal injection of PAP has potent and long-lasting analgesic properties in animal models of chronic pain.  

The press release can be found at:

http://uncnews.unc.edu/news/health-and-medicine/unc-study-cell-protein-suppresses-pain-eight-times-more-effectively-than-morphine.html.