A University of Queensland researcher has found molecular doorways that could be used to help deliver drugs into the brain to treat neurological disorders.
The team discovered that a protein transporter called FLVCR2 is responsible for transporting an important nutrient called choline across the blood-brain barrier and into the brain. This breakthrough could have significant implications for the development of drugs targeting diseases like Alzheimer’s and stroke, which could be designed to mimic choline and exploit FLVCR2 to gain entry into the brain.
The protein FLVCR2 plays a crucial role in transporting the essential nutrient choline into the brain, as stated by Dr. Cater. Choline, which is vital for various bodily functions including brain development, needs to be consumed at a daily dose of 400-500 mg. Dr. Cater also highlighted the significance of choline in supporting cell regeneration, regulating gene expression, and facilitating communication between neurons. The mechanism of how dietary choline crosses the blood-brain barrier was previously not well understood, but now, with the involvement of FLVCR2, more insights are being gained.The brain has a protective barrier to prevent harmful substances from entering,” she explained. “However, the brain still needs to receive nutrients from the blood, so the barrier has specialized cellular machines that allow specific nutrients like glucose, omega-3 fatty acids, and choline to pass through.” Dr. Cater emphasized the challenge of designing drugs for neurological disorders due to this protective barrier. She also discovered that choline is held in place by a protein cage as it crosses the blood-brain barrier. This was demonstrated using high-powered cryo-electron technology.The use of microscopes is essential for observing the way choline binds to FLVCR2,” stated the researcher. “This knowledge is crucial for developing drugs that imitate choline and can be transported by FLVCR2 to target the brain. These discoveries will guide the development of drugs for conditions like Alzheimer’s and stroke.” Additionally, the study emphasizes the significance of consuming choline-rich foods such as eggs, vegetables, meat, nuts, and beans. The research, which was funded by the National Institutes of Health, is published in Nature.
