Title:The Ligands of Translocator Protein: Design and Biological Properties
Volume: 27
Issue: 2
Author(s): Grigory V. Mokrov, Olga A. Deeva and Tatiana A. Gudasheva*
Affiliation:
- Zakusov Research Institute of Pharmacology, 125315, Moscow,Russian Federation
Keywords:
18 kDa translocator protein TSPO, TSPO ligands, neuropsychotropic activity, drug design, neurosteroids, cholesterol.
Abstract: In 2020, it is already 43 years since Braestrup and Squires discovered 18 kDa translocator protein
(TSPO), known until 2006 as "peripheral benzodiazepine receptor". During this time, the functions of this receptor,
which is located on the outer membrane of mitochondria, were studied in detail. One of the key functions of
TSPO is the transfer of cholesterol from the outer to the inner mitochondrial membrane, which is the limiting
stage in the synthesis of neurosteroids. TSPO is also involved in the transport of porphyrins, mitochondrial respiration,
the opening of mitochondrial pores, apoptosis and cell proliferation. This review presents current information
on the structure of TSPO, the mechanism of its participation in neurosteroidogenesis, as well as endogenous
and synthetic TSPO ligands. Particular emphasis is placed on the analysis of approaches to the design of synthetic
ligands and their neuropsychotropic activity in vitro and in vivo. The presented review demonstrates the promise
of constructing new neuropsychotropic drugs in the series of TSPO ligands.