Using advanced gene-editing technology, researchers at the Univ. of California, Davis (UC Davis) transformed a bacterial protein into a tool for monitoring serotonin, a neurochemical that is essential to how our brain processes thoughts and feelings and regulates mood.
Serotonin has been implicated in mental disorders such as depression and anxiety, and most antidepressants target some aspect of the serotonergic system — for example, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) specifically target the serotonin transporter (SERT).
However, the development of effective therapeutics for depression and anxiety is challenging, mainly because very little is known of serotonin dynamics, e.g., how much serotonin is in the body at any given time and how that affects our brain processes.
Existing methods for measuring serotonin levels are useful, but not extremely accurate. With the novel UC Davis serotonin sensor, scientists may be able to more accurately monitor serotonin levels to assess the effectiveness of psychoactive drugs...
▲ Scientists used artificial intelligence to help redesign a nutrient...
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