11C-UCB-J

11C-UCB-J

11C-UCB-J is a radiotracer used in Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging. It is primarily used to visualize and measure the synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2A (SV2A) in the brain. SV2A is a protein involved in the regulation of neurotransmitter release, and it is the binding site for antiepileptic drugs like levetiracetam.

Chemistry

11C-UCB-J is a carbon-11 labelled compound. The carbon-11 isotope is a positron emitter with a half-life of approximately 20 minutes. This short half-life makes it suitable for PET imaging. The compound is synthesized by alkylation of the desmethyl precursor with carbon-11 methyl iodide.

Pharmacology

In the brain, 11C-UCB-J binds to SV2A proteins. The level of SV2A in the brain can be quantified by measuring the amount of 11C-UCB-J that binds to these proteins. This provides a measure of the density of synaptic vesicles in the brain, which can be useful in the study of various neurological and psychiatric disorders.

Clinical Use

11C-UCB-J PET imaging has been used in research studies to investigate conditions such as epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease, and schizophrenia. It can also be used to monitor the effects of drugs that target SV2A, such as levetiracetam.

See Also

• Positron Emission Tomography
• Radiotracer
• Neurotransmitter
• Levetiracetam

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