Promicin
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Promicin is a fictional neurotransmitter in the USA Network science fiction television series The 4400.
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[edit] Background
The human body produces four main neurotransmitters that control and regulate everything in The 4400. Every 4400 produces a fifth neurotransmitter called Promicin that enables him or her to use parts of the cerebellum no human has previously used. This is the cause of the new abilities in each returnee. Promicin's behavior and effect are unpredictable, potentially giving any ability. However, as part of a government conspiracy, every 4400 was regularly injected with a promicin-inhibitor, suppressing their potential new abilities.[1]
Since the government ceased injecting Promicin inhibitor, every 4400 has developed an ability.[1]
Dr. Kevin Burkhoff devised a way to artificially create 4400 abilities through a series of promicin injections, using himself as a test subject[2], giving him regenerative abilities.[3] However, the government found out about this breakthrough and built up its own stockpile of much purer promicin (extracted from Isabelle Tyler), which they have in turn used to create at least one group of soldiers with 4400 abilities. Jordan Collier stole the government's supply, and is distributing it via human couriers to those who wish.
An injection of the promicin obtained from Isabelle has a 50/50 chance of either killing the person taking the injection (by way of an aneurysm[4]) or giving them a 4400 ability.[5]
There exists a substance that can eliminate all traces of promicin in the human body, effectively robbing the injected individual of any 4400 powers.[4] The identity and makeup of this substance is unknown, and the only known source of it so far is from the future.[6]
[edit] Promicin-inhibitor
The promicin-inhibitor piggybacks on glucose, after entering the brain through facilitated diffusion. It is a binding protein-that is, it binds itself to promicin in the body and neutralizes it. However, if there is no promicin for it to bind to, it remains in the body. Eventually, it builds up to toxic levels in the lymph nodes, damaging the immune systen. The result is chemically induced AIDS.
To counter-act the promicin inhibitor, Dr. Kevin Burkhoff developed a serum containing Isabelle's pure promicin. This serum neutralized the charge so the inhibitor was not able to cross membranes and could be flushed out of the body.[5]
[edit] References
- ^ a b "Mommy's Bosses". The 4400.
- ^ "The New World". The 4400.
- ^ "Being Tom Baldwin". The 4400.
- ^ a b "Fifty-Fifty". The 4400.
- ^ a b "Terrible Swift Sword". The 4400.
- ^ "Gone". The 4400.
[edit] External links
- Promicin at Scifipedia
- Promicin at The 4400 wiki
| The 4400 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 4400 Returnees | NTAC Agents | ||
| Richard Tyler | Lily Tyler | Shawn Farrell | Jordan Collier Alana Mareva | Maia Skouris | Tess Doerner |
Tom Baldwin | Diana Skouris | Dennis Ryland Nina Jarvis | Marco Pacella |
||
| Other Characters | General | ||
| Kyle Baldwin | Kevin Burkhoff | Isabelle Tyler Minor Characters | Recurring Characters |
Episodes | Promicin | Official Website | Quotes Haspel Corp | 4400 Center | Highland Beach |
||
