Unexpected connections: Calcium refill mechanisms in nerve cells affects gene expression
Thursday, October 8, 2015 - 12:40
in Biology & Nature
SOCE (Store Operated Calcium Entry) is a process by which Calcium ions slowly enter cells to refill depleted calcium stores. This process in nerve cells is now thought to play a role in maintaining the levels of dopamine, a vital neurotransmitter in the brains of Drosophila flies. If SOCE operates in a similar way in mammalian neurons, it might provide new pathways to explore the treatment of Parkinson's disease.