Protecting neurons from cell death following epilepsy

A new paper paper by Malik et al in Cell Reports, coauthored by Anders Nykjaer, demonstrates that the receptor SorCS2 is protective against the brain damage that follows an epileptic seizure. They find that SorCS2 secures proper expression of EEAT3, a transporter that mediates cellular uptake of the amino acid cysteine, at the plasma membrane of neurons. In SorCS2 deficient mice production of glutathione is attenuated making the neurons vulnerable to oxidative stress that coincides with enhanced neuronal cell death and mortality during epilepsy. 

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