New Tool Tracks Psychedelic Effects In Brain Neurons In Minutes Rather Than Hours

Researchers at the University of California Davis have developed a groundbreaking tool to swiftly track neurons and biomolecules activated by psychedelic drugs. This non-invasive method, called CaST for Ca2+-activated Split-TurboID, has been described in research recently published in Nature Methods and reported by Neuroscience News. The new protein-based tool provides unprecedented insights into the neuroplastic effects of psychedelics, promising advancements in treatments for brain disorders like depression and PTSD.

Rapid Tagging Revolutionizes Research

As described by the study authors, CaST stands out due to its speed, achieving cellular tagging in just 10 to 30 minutes, a significant improvement over traditional methods that take hours. This accelerated process is set to enhance research efficiency and guide the development of therapies with fewer side effects by pinpointing the cellular mechanisms psychedelics target.

The UC Davis research team, led by Christina Kim, assistant professor of neurology, used CaST to monitor neurons in mice dosed with psilocybin. The tool identified neurons in the prefrontal cortex, a critical region for mental health, by tagging cells with high calcium levels—a marker of neuronal activity. "What's nice about CaST is that it can be used in a freely behaving animal," Kim noted, highlighting the tool’s versatility.

Unlocking The Benefits Of Psychedelics

Psychedelic compounds like LSD, DMT and psilocybin are known for promoting the growth and strengthening of neurons in the brain's prefrontal cortex. Understanding the cellular mechanisms these drugs act upon is crucial. "It's important to think about the cellular mechanisms that these psychedelics act upon," said Kim. "Once we know that, we can design different variants that target the same mechanism but with fewer side effects."

Collaboration And Future Directions

The research, conducted in collaboration with David Olson, founding director of the Institute for Psychedelics and Neurotherapeutics, is paving the way for more extensive studies. The team plans to enable brain-wide cellular labeling with CaST and enrich the signature of individual proteins produced by neurons affected by psychedelics.

"We can send those samples to the UC Davis Proteomics Core Facility and they can give us an unbiased picture of all the proteins we identified," Kim explained. By comparing the neuronal activity induced by psychedelics to that induced by non-hallucinogenic neurotherapeutics, researchers aim to deepen their understanding of the therapeutic effects of psychedelics.

Promising Implications for Mental Health

The findings from this research could significantly impact the treatment of brain disorders. By identifying how psychedelics benefit cellular profiles, scientists can elucidate the step-by-step processes of their therapeutic effects. Kim expressed excitement about future experiments, stating, "CaST will be an important tool for studying the mechanisms of action of these neurotherapeutic drugs."

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