How the SV2 brain transporter helps nerve cells package and release chemicals
Structural and functional investigations on synaptic vesicular transporters
This work aims to understand how a brain protein called SV2 helps nerve cells load and release chemical signals, which matters for people with epilepsy and other brain conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | St. Jude Children's Research Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Memphis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11290431 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers at St. Jude will use high-resolution cryo-electron microscopy to map the 3D shape of SV2 and related synaptic vesicle transporters and will use mass spectrometry and biochemical assays to identify what they move. They will perform in vitro cell experiments and in vivo animal assays to see how disease-linked SV2 mutations change transporter function and how antiepileptic drugs interact with SV2. The team will trace the molecular pathway by which SV2 loads neurotransmitters into synaptic vesicles and how that process fails in epilepsy and other brain disorders. Results are intended to explain drug actions on SV2 and suggest molecular targets for future therapies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with epilepsy—especially those with known SV2 gene mutations or drug-resistant seizures—are the most directly relevant group for potential future applications of this research.
Not a fit: People without neurological conditions or whose epilepsy is unrelated to SV2 are unlikely to directly benefit from this specific research in the near term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal why SV2 dysfunction causes epilepsy and point to better, more targeted treatments for people with SV2-related brain disorders.
How similar studies have performed: Cryo-EM and biochemical approaches have successfully revealed mechanisms for other neurotransmitter transporters, but SV2's exact substrate and drug interactions remain largely unproven.
Where this research is happening
Memphis, United States
- St. Jude Children's Research Hospital — Memphis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lee, Chia-Hsueh — St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
- Study coordinator: Lee, Chia-Hsueh
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.