A single protein that helps drive responses to touch, temperature, pain and itch could offer a new drug target

A light brush, a hot surface and an irritating itch all activate different sensory pathways, yet researchers have determined that, in mice, these otherwise distinct responses share a molecular helper. A team led by Bailong Xiao at Tsinghua University found that removing the protein CRELD1 weakened the animals' reactions to touch, heat, cold, painful pressure and itch. But how can one protein influence so many different sensations?

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