High-resolution imaging reveals ladder-like structure of the endoplasmic reticulum in neurons (VIDEO)
Caption
New research details the subcellular structures in neurons that enable signals to be transmitted from where they are received at specific sites on dendrites to the decision-making cell body located hundreds of micrometers away.
The new research finds that the endoplasmic reticulum and the plasma membrane form contact sites where specialized molecules control the release of calcium, which regulates the signals sent along the dendrite to the soma.
This movie shows 3D renderings of these structures in high-resolution 3D electron microscopy images of fruit fly neurons. The endoplasmic reticulum (green), plasma membrane (blue), mitochondria (pink), microtubules (tan), and ER-plasma membrane contacts (magenta) are segmented from FIB-SEM datasets of a Drosophila melanogaster MBON1 neuron.
Credit
Benedetti et al.
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License
CC BY-NC