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Related Concept Videos

Antiepileptic Drugs: Modulators of Neurotransmitter Release Mediated by SV2A Protein01:20

Antiepileptic Drugs: Modulators of Neurotransmitter Release Mediated by SV2A Protein

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Antiepileptic drugs, such as levetiracetam (Keppra) and brivaracetam (Briviact), have emerged as crucial tools in managing epilepsy. These medications exert their therapeutic effects by targeting the synaptic vesicle protein SV2A, a transmembrane glycoprotein primarily found in the brain.
SV2A is a transmembrane glycoprotein located predominantly in the brain, modulating the release of neurotransmitters for neuronal communication. Both levetiracetam and brivaracetam exhibit a high affinity for...
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Antiepileptic Drugs: GABAergic Pathway Potentiators01:18

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γ-aminobutyric acid or GABA, plays a pivotal role as an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain. GABA pathway potentiators, also known as GABAergic drugs, are a class of pharmaceutical agents designed to enhance the functioning of the GABAergic system. These medications primarily treat epilepsy, a neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures.
The key GABA pathway potentiators used in epilepsy management are as follows.
Benzodiazepines are a well-known class of drugs used for...
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Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview01:24

Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview

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Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disease marked by recurrent, unpredictable seizures. These seizures are caused by abnormal electrical discharges in the brain, leading to behavior, sensation, or consciousness alterations. They can also cause transient impairment of awareness, interfering with daily activities.
Various factors can trigger epilepsy, including genetic factors, brain damage, metabolic causes, and unknown etiology. Diagnosis of epilepsy involves electroencephalography (EEG), which...
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Antiepileptic Drugs: Potassium Channel Activators01:20

Antiepileptic Drugs: Potassium Channel Activators

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Ezocgabine or retigabine, an antiepileptic drug of remarkable efficacy, has revolutionized the management of seizures. It is a potassium channel activator, explicitly targeting the family of Q subtype potassium channels. It enhances the transmembrane potassium currents, regulating neuronal excitability. This action stabilizes the resting membrane potential, a pivotal factor in mitigating the hyperexcitability that characterizes epilepsy.
Ezogabine has gained approval as an adjunctive treatment...
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Antiepileptic Drugs: Glutamate Antagonists01:14

Antiepileptic Drugs: Glutamate Antagonists

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Glutamate is a fundamental neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, playing a vital role in neuronal communication and various cognitive processes. Glutamate stands as the principal excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain. Its presence is crucial for the communication between neurons, underpinning essential processes such as synaptic transmission, neuronal excitability, and plasticity. These functions are vital for higher-order cognitive processes, including learning and memory. The...
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Antiepileptic Drugs: Sodium Channel Blockers01:08

Antiepileptic Drugs: Sodium Channel Blockers

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Antiepileptic drugs are specialized medications that prevent seizures in individuals diagnosed with epilepsy. These drugs primarily function by blocking the movement of sodium ions through channels in the neuronal membrane, inhibiting the repetitive firing of action potentials often associated with seizures.
Sodium channel blockers modulate ion channels, particularly voltage-gated sodium channels. They block only sodium ion movement.
Among the most commonly prescribed antiepileptic drugs are...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 13, 2026

Electrophoretic Delivery of &#947;-aminobutyric Acid GABA into Epileptic Focus Prevents Seizures in Mice
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A New SV2A Ligand for Epilepsy.

Michael A Rogawski1

  • 1Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA.

Cell
|October 22, 2016
PubMed
Summary

Racetams, used since the 1970s as cognitive enhancers, include levetiracetam, which targets SV2A. Its analog, brivaracetam, was developed for higher affinity and improved antiseizure effects.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Pharmacology
  • Medicinal Chemistry

Background:

  • Racetams have been utilized as cognitive enhancers since the 1970s.
  • Levetiracetam, a racetam analog, exhibits antiseizure activity by binding to SV2A.
  • SV2A is a protein found in synaptic and endocrine vesicles.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore analogs of levetiracetam with enhanced properties.
  • To identify compounds with higher affinity for racetam-binding sites.
  • To develop novel agents with greater antiseizure potency.

Main Methods:

  • Medicinal chemistry campaign focused on racetam analogs.
  • In vitro assays to determine binding affinity.
  • In vivo animal models to assess antiseizure activity.

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Author Spotlight: Obtaining High-Quality CSF and Blood Samples for Epilepsy Biomarker Discovery
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Last Updated: Mar 13, 2026

Electrophoretic Delivery of &#947;-aminobutyric Acid GABA into Epileptic Focus Prevents Seizures in Mice
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Electroconvulsive Seizures in Rats and Fractionation of Their Hippocampi to Examine Seizure-induced Changes in Postsynaptic Density Proteins
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Main Results:

  • Identification of brivaracetam as a levetiracetam analog.
  • Brivaracetam demonstrated higher affinity at racetam-binding sites.
  • Brivaracetam exhibited increased antiseizure potency compared to levetiracetam.

Conclusions:

  • Brivaracetam represents a promising next-generation analog of levetiracetam.
  • The development strategy successfully yielded a compound with improved pharmacological profile.
  • Further research into SV2A ligands may lead to novel epilepsy treatments.