Scientists discover two proteins that control chandelier cell architecture
Friday, January 17, 2014 - 11:01
in Biology & Nature
Chandelier cells are neurons that use their unique shape to act like master circuit breakers in the brain. These cells have branching projections that allow one chandelier cell to block the output of hundreds of other neurons. Defects in their function have been linked to epilepsy and schizophrenia. In work published, scientists identify two proteins that control the structure of chandelier cells, offering insight into how the cells are regulated.