How A Protein Helps Nerve Cells Recycle Synaptic Vesicles
Monday, June 15, 2009 - 21:37
in Biology & Nature
Neurons transmit electrical signals efficiently only when they recycle neurotransmitter-carrying vesicles that have been expelled into the synapse. Researchers now report that the recycling of vesicles is controlled by oligophrenin-1, a protein whose lack of function has been known to cause a brain developmental disorder called X-linked mental retardation.