Findings identify a novel pharmacological target for drug
development
Researchers at McGill University have found that sodium –
the main chemical component in table salt – is a unique “on/off” switch for a
major neurotransmitter receptor in the brain. This receptor, known as the
kainate receptor, is fundamental for normal brain function and is implicated in
numerous diseases, such as epilepsy and neuropathic pain.
Prof. Derek Bowie and his laboratory in McGill’s Department
of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, worked with University of Oxford researchers
to make the discovery. By offering a different view of how the brain transmits
information, their research highlights a new target for drug development. The
findings are published in the journal Nature Structural & Molecular
Biology.