T-type channels in pond snails and other invertebrates are similar to those found in humans. Biologists have discovered how an outer shield over T-type channels change the electrochemical signaling of heart and brain cells. Understanding how these shields work will help researchers eventually develop a new class of drugs for treating epilepsy, cardiovascular disease and cancer. Although pond snails reach only seven cm in length, its simple neural network and physiology make it a popular model organism with neurobiologists. Credit: University of Waterloo Biologists have discovered how an outer shield over T-type channels change the electrochemical signaling of heart and brain cells. Understanding how these shields work will help researchers eventually develop a new class of drugs for treating epilepsy, cardiovascular disease and cancer. The study from the University of Waterloo is published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry today and is featured as the “Paper of the Week” for its significance. The researchers discovered T-type channels in the pond snail, Lymnaea stagnalis, can shift from using calcium ions to using sodium ions to generate the electrical signal because of an outer shield of amino acids called a turret situated above the channel’s entrance. Low voltage T-type channels generate tiny pulses of current at regular
The post Biologists discover a key regulator in the pacemakers of our brain and heart has been published on Technology Org.
#materials
See Zazzle gifts tagged with 'science'
No comments:
Post a Comment