Calcium connections: Basic pathway for maintaining cell's fuel stores
Tuesday, July 27, 2010 - 14:21
in Biology & Nature
Investigators have described a previously unknown biological mechanism in cells that prevents them from cannibalizing themselves for fuel. The mechanism involves the fuel used by cells under normal conditions and relies on an ongoing transfer of calcium between two cell components via an ion channel. Without this transfer, cells start consuming themselves as a way of to get enough energy.