Exocytosis is an essential cellular activity, particularly evident in neuronal network. The secretion of proteins and other molecules, packed into lipid membranes, or granules, starts in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), involves the Golgi apparatus, and ends on the surface of the plasma membrane. The transport of molecules to be released outside the cells requires a […]
24 posts found
Synaptic metabolism
New applications of neuronal 3D cultures help to understand their metabolism
Scientists have the need to develop and choose the best biological models to understand the basis of the diseases in preclinical studies. Currently, animals and monolayer cell cultures (2D cultures) are widely spread as reference models. Anyway, these models are not completely reliable when it is necessary to comprehend some key events of the development […]
DHA: a key omega-3 fatty acid in children brain development
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is a long-chain omega-3 fatty acid naturally present in cold water fatty fish, and in maternal breast milk. DHA is also available in fish oil, in algal supplements, and in fortified milk and eggs. Although DHA can be synthesized from short-chain precursor a-linolenic acid, diet-assumed DHA accumulates more efficiently in erythrocytes, breast […]
Gut microbes induce serotonin production
We know, thanks to years of investigation, that our intestine is populated by 1-2 kilograms of microorganisms, almost the equivalent of an average human brain. We also know that this living and transforming universe is critical for digestion of food, regulation of immune system, response to drugs and susceptibility to disease. Recently, amazing data indicate […]
Sleep traps memory. The role of dopamine
With only 100,000 neurons, the fruit fly Drosophila Melanogaster confirms that sleep is not only good for skin and mood, but also for memory. American researchers at Florida Campus of The Scripps Research Institute published in the journal Cell that remembering and forgetting are two processes closely related, dependent on the activation or inactivation of […]
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