New Clues To Understanding Epilepsy

The new study showing how proteins interact to control the firing of brain cells provides new insights into ways to regulate specialized compartments of cells in the brain that controls signaling. Controlling patterns of activity are important to brain functions, if the compartment can be influenced it could make possible to control the firing of brain cells which may stop or prevent seizures, and other disorders such as sleep disorders and anxiety.

This 6 year study has quantitatively defined how 2 key proteins interact: GABAA receptor a2 subunit and collybistin. When interaction was disrupted in mode rodent subjects EGG tests showed brain waves moving out of control mimicking that which would be seen in humans with anxiety and epilepsy. This piece of information may potentially be a game changer, previous theory had questions of how pieces fit with a group of 3 or more proteins interacting, but this study strongly suggests a specific interaction between these 2 proteins and has implications of how to regulate this area. Development of drugs to target GABAA receptor a2 subunit and collybistin may lead to more effective treatments for epilepsy and anxiety.