Dopamine Receptor–Drug Structure Could Aid Development of Safer Antipsychotics

Scientists at the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill have resolved the structure of the D 2 dopamine receptor (DRD2) bound to the antipsychotic drug risperidone. The researchers, led by Bryan L. Roth, M.D., Ph.D., hope that the new insights provided by the structure—which included some surprises—will help in the design of safer drugs for psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, and autism-spectrum disorders.“If we want to create better