Introduction

Antipsychotic and antianxiety drugs targeting ion channels are believed to modulate synaptic transmission in specific brain regions, such as the limbic system in schizophrenia and both the limbic and brainstem reticular activating systems in anxiety. Voltage-gated calcium channel  (Cav1.3/β3/α2δ) play a role in neurotransmitter release and are potential targets for modulating synaptic plasticity; GABA receptors (α1β3γ2, α2β3γ2, α3β3γ2, α4β3γ2, and α5β3γ2) mediate the GABAergic transmission that  is crucial for anxiety modulation; nAChR receptors (α4/β2, α7, α3β4α5, α6/3β2β3), the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, are potential targets for cognitive enhancement in schizophrenia; NMDA receptors (NR1/NR2A, NR1/NR2B, NR1/NR2C, and NR1/NR2D), the glutamatergic NMDA receptors, are key in the treatment of schizophrenia and related disorders; Potassium, voltage-gated (KCNQ2/3 and KCNQ3/5) regulate neuronal excitability and are potential therapeutic targets for anxiety and schizophrenia; Potassium, calcium-activated (SK1, SK2, and SK3) are involved in the regulation of neuronal excitability and synaptic plasticity.

Psychiatric disorder ion channel Portfolio

Our Psychiatric Disorder Ion Channel Portfolio is designed to identify and profile ion channels and neurotransmitter receptor channels critical in the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders, particularly anxiety and schizophrenia. This panel is an asset in the development of therapeutics aimed at modulating synaptic transmission in specific brain regions. This panel could offer a focused approach to identifying and profiling ion channels that are critical in psychiatric disorders. By targeting these channels, we can accelerate the development of novel therapeutics with improved selectivity and efficacy.