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This invention includes the generation and use of polyclonal antibodies that specifically recognize the glutamate receptor 1 protein that has been phosphorylated at Serine 567 (GluA1 pS567). Glutamate receptors are ligand-gated ion channels and are the predominant excitatory neurotransmitter receptor type in humans. A peptide sequence on the gene was selected surrounding the phosphorylation site. This peptide was then generated and injected into rabbits to create an immune response. Serum was then collected from the rabbit and the antibodies were affinity purified.

This invention includes the generation and use of monoclonal antibodies that specifically recognize either arginine vasopressin (AVP) or oxytocin (OT) when bound to neurophysins. The neurophysins (NPs) are a family of proteins that bind to hormones as they are released from the hypothalamus and make their way to the pituitary gland. Monoclonal antibodies were generated that specifically recognize vasopressin bound to a neurophysin (NP-AVP) or oxytocin bound to a neurophysin (NP-OT). Seven monoclonal antibodies were characterized.

This technology relates to the creation and use of newly identified ligands to the D1 dopamine receptor (D1R). The D1 dopamine receptor is linked to a variety of neuropsychiatric disorders and represents an attractive drug target for the enhancement of cognition in schizophrenia, Alzheimer disease, and other disorders. These ligands are positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) that bind to the dopamine receptor at a site other than where dopamine binds and causes the receptor to have an increased response.

The technology relates to therapeutic approaches that inhibit and block the replication of the endogenous HERV-K retrovirus. Previous work has shown that patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) can have HERV-K activation. In animal models, activation of HERV-K can lead to neurodegenerative symptoms similar to those exhibited by ALS patients. Work in these animal models has allowed the identification of the responsible transcription factor (TDP-43) as well as the corresponding positions of the HERV-K promoter binding sites.

The technology includes USP30 knockout HeLa cells that were generated using CRISPR technology. Parkin and Pink1 are key master genes for triggering the degradation of mitochondria (mitophagy). In contrast, USP30 has been found to be localized in the mitochondria and have a role in antagonizing Parkin function, thereby impeding mitophagy.

This invention relates to methods and algorithms that incorporate information from multiple imaging modalities to identify, estimate the size, and track the time course of brain lesions. Subjects develop brain lesions over the natural course of a disease. Currently, lesions are measured and tracked by a trained neuroradiologist using slice-by-slice inspection, a slow process that is prone to human error and hard to generalize to large observational studies.

This technology includes a cell line that stably expresses YFP-Parkin and mt-mKeima that can be used to study mitochondrial degradation, mitophagy, using flow cytometry (FACS). Compromised mitophagy is implicated in Parkinson disease. The effects of any compounds or genetic alteration on Parkin-mediated mitophagy can be monitored.

This technology involves the generation and use of a mouse model for studying hypogonadism in humans and a cell line to study cellular and molecular properties of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) cells. The mouse model expresses the simian virus 40 T antigen driven by the GnRH promoter, resulting in hypogonadism due to an arrest in neuronal migration during development and tumor formation along the migratory pathway. Olfactory bulb tumors in this model animal were dispersed, and GnRH-secreting neuronal cell line (GN/NLT cell line) was established.

This invention relates to the synthesis and methods of using a drug, deuterated L-DOPS, to treat deficiencies in the neurotransmitter norepinephrine. This classic neurotransmitter has roles in both the brain and the periphery. In the brain, norepinephrine is thought to play important roles in attention, memory, sleep, pain, movement, distress, and mood. Outside the brain, norepinephrine mediates regulation of the circulation by the sympathetic nervous system by increasing blood pressure.

This technology includes the generation and use of HeLa cell lines that have the TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1) gene knocked out solely or in combination with either the genes NDP52 or OPTN. Both NDP52 and OPTN are receptors involved in the degradation of mitochondria, mitophagy. The TBK1 kinase has a role in enhancing the effect of mitophagy on these receptors. Mutations in TBK1 have been shown to be associated with neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson, frontotemporal dementia, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).