Translocator Protein (TSPO)

TSPO) is an 18 kDa protein of the outer mitochondrial membrane. It was a secondary binding site for diazepam, but subsequent research has found the receptor to be expressed throughout the body and brain.

TSPO has been shown to be involved in a number of processes such as inflammation, and TSPO ligands may be useful anti-cancer drugs. Activation of TSPO is also required for steroidogenesis to take place, and this is particularly important for the production of neuroactive steroids such as allopregnanolone in the brain. This makes some TSPO ligands such as emapunil (XBD-173) useful as potential anxiolytics which may have less side effects than traditional benzodiazepine-type drugs.