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Nature 438, 167-168 (10 November 2005) | doi:10.1038/438167a; Published online 9 November 2005

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Neurobiology: Triggers for channel opening

Cynthia Czajkowski1

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Fast transmission between nerve cells relies on specialized ion channels. Probing the structure of these proteins reveals how the binding of a neurotransmitter causes the communication channels to open.

Chemical signalling in the brain involves the rapid opening and closing of channels known as ligand-gated ion channels, which lie in the membranes of nerve cells. Binding of a specific activator (a ligand) to these proteins triggers the opening of an integral pore through the membrane in as little as tens of microseconds1.

  1. Cynthia Czajkowski is in the Department of Physiology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 601 Science Drive, Madison, Wisconsin 53711, USA.
    Email: czajkowski@physiology.wisc.edu

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