When the signal reaches the axon terminals, the electrical charge changes once more: instead of sodium ions, it is the positively charged calcium ions that enter the extra-permeable cell membrane.

When an axon fires, voltage-sensitive ion channels in the neuron's membrane open, allowing calcium ions to enter. We would therefore expect to see the firing as a flash of green fluorescence ...

After nerve injury, signals from the lesion site must reach the nucleus in order to initiate the transcriptional responses required for regeneration. In this Review, Rishal and Fainzilber describe ...

The appropriate targeting of voltage-gated ion channels is essential for the normal functioning of neurons. Lai and Jan review the mechanisms involved in the trafficking and retention of these ...

If an attractive signal is on the left, new pieces of axon membrane are inserted into the left side of the growth cone, which makes the axon grow towards the attractive signal. Until now, while ...

The AP travels down the axon towards the axon terminal, where it signals to other neurons via the synapse. The ion fluxes during APs dissipate ion gradients, and energy is needed to re-establish ...

Jan. 29, 2024 — Calcium ions are essential for cells, but can be toxic in higher concentrations. A team of researchers has now designed and prepared a combination drug that kills tumor cells by ...