Nervous system

Neuronal Signaling is involved in the regulation of the mechanisms of the central nervous system (CNS) such as its structure, function, genetics and physiology as well as how this can be applied to understand diseases of the nervous system. Every information processing system in the CNS is composed of neurons and glia, neurons have evolved unique capabilities for intracellular signaling (communication within the cell) and intercellular signaling (communication between cells). G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), including 5-HT receptor, histamine receptor, opioid receptor, etc. are the largest class of sensory proteins and are important therapeutic targets in Neuronal Signaling. Besides, Notch signaling, such as β- and γ-secretase, also plays multiple roles in the development of the CNS including regulating neural stem cell (NSC) proliferation, survival, self-renewal and differentiation. GPCR dysfunction caused by receptor mutations and environmental challenges contributes to many neurological diseases. Notch signaling in neurons, glia, and NSCs is also involved in pathological changes that occur in disorders such as stroke, Alzheimer's disease and CNS tumors. Thus, targeting Neuronal Signaling, such as notch signaling and GPCRs, can be used as therapeutic interventions for several different CNS disorders.

MCE designs a unique collection of 2,803 Neuronal Signaling-related compounds that act as a useful tool for the research of neuronal regulation and neuronal diseases.

GABA receptors are a class of receptors that respond to the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), the chief inhibitory neurotransmitter in the vertebrate central nervous system. There are two classes of GABA receptors: GABAA and GABAB. GABAA receptors are ligand-gated ion channels (also known as ionotropic receptors), whereas GABAB receptors are G protein-coupled receptors (also known asmetabotropic receptors). GABA receptors are significant drug targets in the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders such as epilepsy, insomnia, and anxiety, as well as in anesthesia in surgical operations.

MCE offers a unique collection of 150 GABA receptors inhibitors and activators, which is an efficient tool for neuropsychiatric disorders drugs discovery.

Most of molecules enter or leave cells mainly via membrane transport proteins, which play important roles in several cellular functions, including cell metabolism, ion homeostasis, signal transduction, the recognition process in the immune system, energy transduction, etc. There are three major types of transport proteins, ATP-powered pumps, channel proteins and transporters. Transport proteins such as channels and transporters play important roles in the maintenance of intracellular homeostasis, and mutations in these transport protein genes have been identified in the pathogenesis of a number of hereditary diseases. In the central nervous system, ion channels have been linked to, but not limited to, many diseases such asataxias, paralyses, epilepsies, and deafness. This indicates the roles of ion channels in the initiation and coordination of movement, sensory perception, and encoding and processing of information. Ion channels are a major class of drug targets in drug development.

MCE designs a unique collection of 1,518 smal-molecule modulators that can be used for the research of Ion Channel and Membrane Transporter or high throughput screening (HTS) related drug discovery.

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is the complex network of brain microvessels. It protects the brain from the external bloodstream environment and supplies the brain with the required nutrients for normal function. However, blood-brain barrier is also the obstacle to deliver beneficial drugs to treat CNS (central nervous system) diseases or brain tumors, as it has the least permeable capillaries in the entire body due to physical barriers (tight junctions). Therefore, it is crucial to discover drugs which can cross this barrier for the treatment of brain-based diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD) and epilepsy.

MCE offers a unique collection of 901 compounds with confirmed CNS-Penetrant property. It’s a useful tool for the discovery of drugs used for brain diseases, such as brain tumors, mental disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases.

Exosomes are small membrane vesicles of endocytic origin that are secreted by most cells in culture. Exosomes contain nucleic acids, proteins, lipids, amino acids, and metabolites, etc. Their diverse constituents can reflect their cell of origin. Exosomes are associated with immune responses, viral pathogenicity, pregnancy, cardiovascular diseases, central nervous system-related diseases, and cancer progression. Proteins, metabolites, and nucleic acids delivered by exosomes into recipient cells effectively alter their biological response. Such exosome-mediated responses can be disease promoting or restraining.

The biology of exosomes in disease is still emerging, and the number of studies addressing their utility in the diagnosis and treatment of various pathologies has increased substantially. MCE supplies a unique collection of 47 compounds with the activity of inhibiting or stimulating exsomes secretion/biosynthesis. MCE Exosomes Compound Library is a useful tool for exsomes research.

Sodium channels conduct sodium ions (Na+) through a cell's plasma membrane that are the source of excitatory currents for the nervous system and muscle. Na channels are classified according to the trigger that opens the channel for such ions, i.e. either a voltage-change (Voltage-gated, voltage-sensitive, or voltage-dependent sodium channel also called VGSCs or Nav channel) or a binding of a substance (a ligand) to the channel (ligand-gated sodium channels). Dysfunction in voltage-gated sodium channels correlates with neurological and cardiac diseases, including epilepsy, myopathies, pain and cardiac arrhythmias. Sodium channel blockers are used in the treatment of cardiac arrhythmia, pain and convulsion.

MCE offers a unique collection of 140 sodium channel blocker and antagonists, all of which have the identified inhibitory effect on sodium channels. MCE Sodium Channel Blocker Library can be used for neurological and cardiac diseases drug discovery and sodium channel research.

The incidence and significance of central nervous system diseases are increasing at an alarming rate all over the world. Although substantial research efforts have been applied to develop new CNS-active drugs, only a few CNS disorders are addressed satisfactorily, while the remaining ones pose significant clinical challenges. Blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability is one of the most important limiting factors in the design and development of novel CNS-targeted pharmaceuticals for the treatment of neurological disorders.

Carefully selected from the HTS Compound Collection to meet the parameters optimized for high BBB-permeability, our CNS Focused Screening Library comprising over 30,300 structurally-diverse and potentially CNS-active screening compounds. This original Screening Compound Library is aimed at supporting CNS drug design projects and HTS efforts in search for novel neurotherapeutics.

5-HT receptors, also called Serotonin receptors, are a group of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and ligand-gated ion channels (LGICs) found in the central and peripheral nervous systems. These receptors are now classified into seven families, 5-HT1–7, comprising a total of 14 structurally and pharmacologically distinct mammalian 5-HT receptor subtypes. The 5-HT receptors influence various biological and neurological processes such as aggression, anxiety, appetite, cognition, learning, memory, mood, nausea, sleep, andthermoregulation. The serotonin receptors are the target of a variety of pharmaceutical drugs, including many antidepressants, antipsychotics, anorectics, antiemetics, gastroprokinetic agents, antimigraine agents, hallucinogens, and entactogens.

MCE 5-HT Receptor Compound Library consists of 326 5-HT receptor inhibitors and activators, which can be used for neuropsychiatric disorders drugs discovery.

Vitamins are a category of trace organic compounds essential for maintaining normal physiological functions in living organisms. They are classified into fat-soluble and water-soluble vitamins. Fat-soluble vitamins play a role in maintaining vision, bone health, reproductive functions, and blood coagulation. Water-soluble vitamins are involved in energy metabolism, nervous system function, and cellular repair processes. Most vitamins cannot be synthesized by the organism and must be obtained through diet. In recent years, vitamins and their derivatives have become increasingly important in the field of drug development due to their extensive physiological activities. Additionally, vitamins and their derivatives can be used to construct research platforms for vitamin metabolism, which helps to delve into the metabolic pathways and dynamic changes of vitamins within the body and aids in identifying new biomarkers for certain diseases.

MCE included 143 vitamins and their derivatives, including Vitamin A, Vitamin B, Vitamin D, etc., which is a good tool for studying vitamin metabolism.

Neurodegenerative diseases are characterised by progressive dysfunction and death of neurons, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and multiple sclerosis (MS). Neuroprotection is an approach to preserve neurons so that neurons cannot be hurt by different pathological factors in neurodegenerative diseases. Neuroprotectors are some agonists and antagonists targeting some key targets in neuroprotactive signal pathways, such as calcium and sodium channel blockers, GABA receptor agonists, NMDA receptor Antagonists, etc. Current neuroprotectors cannot reverse existing damage, but they may protect against further nerve damage and slow down any degeneration of the central nervous system (CNS) and still play important roles in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

MCE offers a unique collection of 1,153 compounds with potential neuroprotective activities. These compounds mainly act on some key targets in neuroprotetive signal pathways, such as calcium channel, sodium channel, adenosine A1 receptor, etc. MCE Neuroprotective Compopund Library is a useful tool in neuroprotective drug discovery.

Ion channel is a membrane-binding enzyme whose catalytic site is an ion conduction pore, which is opened and closed in response to specific environmental stimuli (voltage, ligand concentration, membrane tension, temperature, etc.). Ion channel provide pores for the passive diffusion of ions on the biofilm. Due to their high selectivity for ion, ion channel are generally classified as sodium (Na⁺ ), potassium (K⁺ ), calcium (Ca²⁺ ), chloride (Cl^- ), and non-specific cation channel. Ion channel is an important contributor to cell signal transduction and homeostasis. In addition to electrical signal transduction, ion channel also have many functions: regulating vascular smooth muscle contraction, maintaining normal cell volume, regulating glandular secretion, protein kinase activation, etc. Therefore, dysfunction of ion channel can lead to many diseases, and its mechanism research is particularly important.

MCE designs a unique collection of 1,208 small molecules related to ion channel, mainly targeting Na⁺ channel, K⁺ channel, Ca²⁺ channel, GABA receptor, iGluR, etc. It is an essential tool for research of cardiovascular diseases, Nervous system diseases and other diseases.

Dopamine receptor (DAR), widely distributed in the brain, plays a key role in regulating motor function, motivation, driving force and cognition. The role of DA is mediated by D1-type (D1, D5) and D2-type receptors (D2S, D2L, D3, D4), which are distributed in presynaptic, postsynaptic and extrasynaptic, projection neurons and interneurons. Each receptor has a different function. D1 and D5 receptors couple with G stimulation sites and activate Adenylyl cyclase. The activation of Adenylyl cyclase leads to the production of the second messenger cAMP, which leads to the production of protein kinase A (PKA), which leads to further transcription in the nucleus. D2 to D4 receptors are coupled to G inhibitory sites to inhibit adenylyl cyclase and activate potassium Ion channel. These receptors utilize phosphorylation cascades or direct membrane interactions to affect the functions of voltage-gated and neurotransmitter-gated channels, cytoplasmic enzymes, and transcription factors. Dopamine receptor plays an important role in daily life.

MCE designs a unique collection of 206 small molecules related to dopamine receptor. It is a good tool for screening drugs from nervous system disease.

N-2 Supplement promotes cell growth and survival. It has been associated with the growth and expression of neuroblastoma, and with post-mitotic neuronal survival and expression in primary cultures of both the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and central nervous system (CNS).