This is something that we have been waiting to reveal for a while. The project was originally funded by Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation (proof-of-concept funding, 2021), and the aim was to explore the sodium-dependent multivitamin transporter (SMVT) as a potential brain and neuronal transporter to enhance particularly, the delivery of creatine in diseases like creatine transporter deficiency syndrome (CTDS), where normal creatine transport to neurons is impaired. But of course, at the same time to look forward to the potential benefits in other brain diseases, like neurodegenerative diseases. And this was the funding that enabled the hiring of 2 new talented students, Adela and Ville, who have done a marvellous job tackling all the challenges in analytics and modelling (respectively) that we have faced. Andy's efforts to make these very annoying creatine derivatives are also highly appreciated, as is everyone's participation in the project! Originally, the idea was brainstormed with Prof. Tetsuya Terasaki, who is still working at the UEF as a Visiting Professor, and I clearly remember the day, when he proposed creatine, it wasn't my happiest moment, since I have a history with creatine and I do know very well that only thing that is does is the cyclization into creatinine, and that is a chemist's nightmare! 😂 The publishing process was also a bit of a horror story, as it is hard today to even get feedback due to the declining review activity vs. the number of submitted papers.
Anyway, all ended well, and the paper entitled Sodium-Dependent Multivitamin Transporter Facilitates Brain and Neuronal Uptake of a Creatine Analogue is now published by the American Chemical Society (ACS) - Chemical Neuroscience journal (link, open access). And I do have ideas for the future that have already been supported by a second JAE grant. More about that, hopefully soon!
