LSD , molecular

LSD - Energy Minimized Conformation LSD - Molecular Electrostatic Potential LSD - with receptor... 

LSD Caves, JD Evanseck, M Karplus. Locally accessible conformations of proteins Multiple molecular dynamics simulations of crambm. Protein Sci 7 649-666, 1998. 

Green, J. P., Johnson, C. L., Weinstein, H., Kang, S., and Chou, D. (1978) Molecular determinants for interaction with the LSD receptor Biochemical studies and quantum chemical analysis. In The Psychopharmacology of Hallucinogens, edited by R. C. Stillman and R. E. Willette, pp. 28-60. Pergamon Press, New York. 

Theoretically, the extrapolation from PSP to LSD as far as fallout is concerned is complicated slightly by the difference in molecular weights. The rate of evaporation of the small droplets can be very rapid as the surface curvature increases. The smaller die molecular weight of die dissolved molecule, die greater die number of particles for a given number of grams per milliliter. It has been assumed that this error is not significant at this point in our experimental framework. 

LSD gets its potency from the combination of units within its molecular makeup. Both the indole ethylamine and the phenyl-ethylamine units reside within its structure. 

It became known in the same year (1954) that the substance reserpine, derived from the Indian plant Rauxcolfia serpentina, had antipsychotic effects similar to those of chlorpromazine This finding was of interest for two reasons the molecular structure of reserpine has some similarity to that of serotonin and LSD and it was found that reserpine liberates serotonin from presynaptic stores in the CNS and thus produces a short-lived excess supply of functionally available serotonin at the synapse. In the context of a serotonin hypothesis of schizophrenia, it could be postulated that the antipsychotic effect of reserpine was due to its ability to liberate serotonin presynaptically and make it functionally available. However, despite its scientific appeal, the serotonin hypothesis of schizophrenia did not last long because it was in conflict with both psychopathological and pharmacological findings ... 

The main molecular target of LSD and other hallucinogens is the 5-HT2A receptor. This receptor couples to G proteins of the Gq type and generates inositol trisphosphate (IP3), leading to a release of intracellular calcium. Although hallucinogens, and LSD in particular, have been proposed for several therapeutic indications, efficacy has never been demonstrated. 

During the LSD era, those scientists who worried about permanent consequences of habitual drug use were branded as alarmists. But we now see that even purportedly innocent drugs, whose clinical use is widely sanctioned, affect molecular-level events and influence the genes to increase or decrease their products for very long time spans. We need to know much more about the biochemistry of these cascades that turn milliseconds into hours, hours into days, and days into years. 

LSD and serotonin. LSD may exert its serotonin agonist and antagonist effects via the indoleamine molecular structure that both the synthetic and natural state altering chemicals possess. 

They obtained the teonanactl plant from Mexicans whose trust they had won over enough to allow them to participate in a sacred mushroom ceremony. Roger Herr identified the teonanactl mushroom as Psilocybe Mexicana, and he asked Hofmann to do the biochemical analysis. Unable to establish a bioassay for the extracts he made from the mushrooms, Hofmann took the psilocin and psilocybin extracts himself and reported vivid subjective experiences that were similar to those of LSD. LSD, psilocin, and psilocybin were all similar to serotonin in their molecular structure. 

LSD is the prototypic hallucinogen. Its molecular structure, shown in Figure 14.30, is very similar to that of serotonin, and this similarity permits LSD to... 

Being able tp choose psychoactive compounds with more specific effects than LSD, mescaline and psilocybin has already resulted in more subtle possibilities, along with giant strides in our understanding of how alterations in psychoactive molecular structures affect their duration, as well as empa-thetic, visual and other qualities. New psychedelic substances may have some surprising effects. In the future, we may have psychedelics that go beyond LSD for power and interest. 

Hofmann s laboratory syntheses of ergot analogues resulted in the construction of many new lysergic acid derivatives. Several turned out to be useful in medicine—especially in obstetrics, geriatrics and the treatment of migraine headaches. The twenty-fifth compound in the series his team produced—lab coded LSD-25—was expected on the basis of its molecular... 

Analysis of urine for excess substrates (e.g., glycosaminoglycans in the Mucopolysaccharidoses, globotriaolsylceramide in Fabry disease) may also suggest the presence of an LSD. In any case, all patients suspected to have an LSD should have diagnostic confirmation by means of biochemical and/or molecular genetic analysis. 

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