University of California Medical School disclosed a riddle, what role the clusters of proteins in the neurons of the hippocampus are played. These proteins provide the functioning of the calcium signaling system in cells, which is important to activate certain genes. In the future, the discovery will help develop new therapeutic agents for the treatment of neurological disorders. This is reported in the article published in the Journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
It is known that protein clusters exist in all vertebrates, including a person, and some invertebrates. In one cell, there may be from 50 to 100 large protein clusters, which passes potassium ions through the membranes (that is, a potassium channel forms). In addition, a certain type of calcium channels transmitted to calcium cells to maintain various physiological reactions was discovered in clusters. The fact that they are available from completely different organisms, suggests that clusters are very important and persisted in the process of evolution almost intact.
Hippocampus is a brain area where the consolidation of short-term memory is consolidated. Mutations that affect clusters lead to severe neurological disorders, but until now, scientists did not know why it happens.
Researchers have developed an approach that allowed them to separate calcium channels from potassium clusters within neurons. It turned out that this intervention blocks genes that should be launched by a calcium signaling system. That is, it is precisely the interaction between the two types of channels of channels was decisive in ensuring the work of the genes of the nervous cell. According to scientists, the type of calcium channels detected in protein clusters is needed to convert changes in electrical activity in changes in gene expression. It is crucial for learning, memory formation and other forms of plasticity of neurons.