Investigating the Role of Glyoxalase 1 as a Therapeutic Target for Cocaine and Oxycodone Use Disorder.

Methylglyoxal (MG) is an endogenously produced non-enzymatic side product of glycolysis that acts as a partial agonist at GABA receptors. MG that is metabolized by the enzyme glyoxalase-1 (GLO1). Inhibition of GLO1 increases methylglyoxal levels, and has been shown to modulate various behaviors, including decreasing seeking of cocaine-paired cues and ethanol consumption.