A Novel Small Molecule Targets NKCC1 To Restore Synaptic Inhibition

Vineeth A Raveendran; Jessica C Pressey; Melanie A Woodin

doi:10.1016/j.tips.2020.10.002

A Novel Small Molecule Targets NKCC1 To Restore Synaptic Inhibition

Trends Pharmacol Sci. 2020 Dec;41(12):897-899. doi: 10.1016/j.tips.2020.10.002. Epub 2020 Oct 20.

Authors

Vineeth A Raveendran¹, Jessica C Pressey¹, Melanie A Woodin²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G5, Canada.
² Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G5, Canada. Electronic address: m.woodin@utoronto.ca.

PMID: 33097285
DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2020.10.002

Abstract

Finely tuned excitation-inhibition balance is essential for proper brain function, and loss of balance resulting from reduced synaptic inhibition is associated with neurological disorders. Savardi and colleagues have discovered a novel inhibitor of a cation-chloride transporter that is required for synaptic inhibition, and which restores behaviors associated with Down syndrome (DS) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Keywords: Down syndrome; NKCC1; autism; excitation–inhibition balance; in silico, drug discovery.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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