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neurons

·July 26, 2012·2 min read

Ion Selectivity in Neuronal Signaling Channels Evolved Twice in Animals

Scientists have now revealed that voltage-gated sodium channels, which are responsible for neuronal signaling in the nerves of animals, evolved twice in higher and lower animals.

Electrophysiology Featured

·July 25, 2012·2 min read

Cylindrical Cell Structure Parts May Aid in Targeting Diseases Such as Cancer, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s

The model of microtubule assembly that most people accept shows the individual subunits, dimers of the protein tubulin, just adding to the grow cylinder. But another model indicates that tubulin dimmers first form an open sheet structure that later closes into the cylinder. Xing and his team concluded that their computational study of the models indicate that the second model should be seriously considered for further testing.

Featured Neuroscience

·July 18, 2012·3 min read

Dopamine: A Substance with Many Messages

Researchers recently localised and identified the most important types of nerve cells involved in forming positive and negative memories of a fruit fly. All four nerve cell types they discovered use dopamine to communicate with other nerve cells. Three of the nerve cell types assume various functions in mediating negative stimuli, while the fourth enables the fly to form positive memories.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·July 16, 2012·3 min read

Neurons Derived from Cord Blood Cells May Represent New Therapeutic Option

The researchers demonstrated that cord blood cells, which come from the mesoderm, the middle layer of embryonic germ cells, can be switched to ectodermal cells, outer layer cells from which brain, spinal and nerve cells arise. "This study shows for the first time the direct conversion of a pure population of human cord blood cells into cells of neuronal lineage by the forced expression of a single transcription factor," says Juan Carlos Izpisua Belmonte.

Electrophysiology Featured Neuroscience

·July 12, 2012·10 min read

Large, Medically Important Class of Proteins Starts to Yield Its Secrets

Five recent research papers shed light on elusive G protein-coupled receptors. New techniques and insights used to solve the GPCR structures are discussed.

Featured Genetics Neurology

·June 28, 2012·3 min read

Human Model of Huntington’s Disease Created from Skin’s Stem Cells

‘HD in a dish’ will facilitate search for elusive treatment. An international consortium of Huntington’s disease experts, including several from...

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Videos

·June 27, 2012·3 min read

Nerve Pathway for Combating Axon Injury and Stress May Hold Benefits for Individuals With Neurodegenerative Disorders

Researchers from the Huck Institutes’ Center for Cellular Dynamics, led by Center director Melissa Rolls, have found that a neuroprotective...

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·June 18, 2012·3 min read

Clues to Nervous System Evolution Found in Nerve-less Sponge

UC Santa Barbara scientists turned to the simple sponge to find clues about the evolution of the complex nervous system...

Electrophysiology Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·June 12, 2012·2 min read

Naturally Occurring Protein Has a Role in Chronic Pain

Researchers in France and Sweden have discovered how one of the body’s own proteins is involved in generating chronic pain...

Featured Neurology

·June 11, 2012·2 min read

Research May Hold Key to Multiple Sclerosis Treatment

A receptor recently discovered to control the movement of immune cells across the blood-brain barrier may hold the key to...

Featured Genetics Neurology

·June 7, 2012·3 min read

Researchers Identify Gene that Promotes Axon Destruction

Findings could have broad therapeutic potential for many neurodegenerative diseases. Degeneration of the axon and synapse, the slender projection through...

Genetics

·June 7, 2012·3 min read