Awarded the EAN Grant for Our Presentations in Neurology Conference

Supported by the EAN Conference Grant, we attended the 11th European Academy of Neurology Annual Congress in Helsinki to present our research on the structural dynamics of central nervous system transporters. Our first presentation mapped the specific cross-reactivity between the glial excitatory amino acid transporter 1 (EAAT1) and truncated EAAT2 isoforms. We defined the mechanisms by which these truncated isoforms function as selective interface blockers, expanding the understanding of competitive interactions in the brain.

Our second presentation addressed Alzheimer's disease pathology, specifically focusing on the gamma-secretase complex. Because the native transmembrane architecture of this protease makes it difficult to study in standard aqueous conditions, we utilized the QTY code to design a water-soluble variant. This approach allows us to engineer a soluble analog that maintains the critical structural geometry necessary to study amyloidogenic processing and potential targeted neurotherapeutics.

The full abstracts for both presentations are published in the European Journal of Neurology Supplement 1 and can be accessed via DOI: 10.1111/ene.70191