These findings provide first evidence in humans that the PDYN polymorphism modulates neural processes associated with the anticipation of rewards, which ultimately may help to explain differences between genotypes with respect to addiction and drug abuse.
Prodynorphin (PDYN) binds to kappa-opioid receptors and is known to regulate dopaminergic tone, making this system important for the reinforcing and rewarding properties of drugs of abuse such as opioids.
Prodynorphin, the precursor of the dynorphin opioid peptides, has been shown to play an important role in several aspects of human diseases and complex traits, e.g., drug abuse, epilepsy, and mood disorders.