"Small-Molecule Antagonists of Voltage Gated Calcium Channel Auxiliary Subunits," by Samy Meroueh, Biochemistry, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Caᵥβ subunits bind to the pore-forming Caᵥ2.2α₁ subunit of the neuronal voltage-gated calcium channel Caᵥ2.2 with high affinity, stabilizing the subunit and enabling its trafficking to the plasma membrane. We are developing small molecules that disrupt Caᵥβ binding to Caᵥ2.2α₁ as a strategy to suppress neuropathic pain. I will also briefly describe our work developing small-molecule inhibitors of p190RhoGEF to promote axonal growth and to explore its role in TDP-43 aggregation and ALS.