Functional characterization of novel ligand-gated ion channels. KU Leuven
Fast communication in the brain is carried out by a family of receptors called ligand-gated ion channels. In humans and other vertebrates, these receptors are controlled by three main neurotransmitters: acetylcholine, glycine and GABA. However, the ligand-gated ion channels of invertebrates, while related to those of humans, can be activated by a wider range of chemical messengers and can have different effects on neurons. These differences ...