Johns Hopkins
Johns Hopkins team finds delta-type glutamate receptors function as ligand-gated ion channels
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Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers report that delta-type ionotropic glutamate receptors (GluDs)—long debated as to whether they conduct ions—can act as ligand-gated ion channels. The Nature study used cryo-electron microscopy and membrane recording experiments to characterize human GluD2 and found it can be activated by the neurotransmitters D-serine and GABA, findings the authors say could help guide drug development for disorders linked to GluD mutations.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine have discovered microscopic nanotube channels in the brain that neurons use to transfer toxic molecules, potentially spreading harmful proteins linked to Alzheimer’s disease. The findings, based on experiments with genetically modified mice, suggest these structures increase early in disease models. The study offers new insights into neurodegenerative disorders and possible therapeutic targets.