Available Technologies - Search Results
| Title: | hKCa3/KCNN3 Calcium Activated Potassium Channel: A Diagnostic Marker and Therapeutic Target for Heritable, Neurological and Psychiatric Diseases |
|---|---|
| UC Case No: | 2002-015-2-ott |
| Categories: |
Biotechnology:
Diagnostics,
Drug Targets and Screening Tools,
Genomics and Proteomics
|
| Technology: | University of California, Irvine researchers have discovered SKCa3-1b and SKCa3-1c, two novel isoform variants of the SK3 (also known as KCNN3) gene. The SK3 gene is located on human chromosome 1q21 in a region containing a major susceptibility locus for familial schizophrenia and familial hemiplegic migraine associated with permanent cerebellar ataxia. Researchers have also found that these two novel isoforms dominantly-negatively suppress SKCa3-1A currents. Suppressing SKCa3-1A currents creates a concomitant increase in dopamine release, characteristic of schizophrenia. |
| Application: | A possible therapy is to inhibit SKCa3-1b and SKCa3-1c from suppressing SKCa3-1A currents in order to treat schizophrenia and other heritable, neurological and psychiatric diseases. A method for detection may also be developed based upon the activity of these novel genes. |
| Contact: |
Maria Tkachuk, Licensing Associate Office of Technology Alliances University of California, Irvine 380 University Tower Irvine, CA 92697-7700 Phone: (949) 824-2288 FAX: (949) 824-2899 Email: mtkachuk@uci.edu |
| Patent Status: | U.S. Patent No. 7,022,480 |
| UCI School: | College of Medicine |
| Department: | Physiology & Biophysics |
