title: Psychopharmacology of anticonvulsants: levetiracetam as a synaptic vesicle protein modulator.
abstract: A novel mechanism of action has recently been described for levetiracetam, a member of a new class of anticonvulsants. Levetiracetam binds selectively and with high affinity to a synaptic vesicle protein known as SV2A, thought to be involved with synaptic vesicle exocytosis and presynaptic neurotransmitter release.
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Education Institute in Carlsbad, CA 92009, USA.
authors.forename: Stephen M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Stahl
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005089:Exocytosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D010889:Piracetam / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D012640:Seizures / Q000517:prevention & control; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects; D013572:Synaptic Vesicles / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; C489614:Sv2a protein, mouse; C076414:SV2A protein, human; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D010889:Piracetam