Scientists Discover Hidden “Gatekeeper” Inside Brain Cells Linked to Alzheimer’s

Scientists Discover Hidden “Gatekeeper” Inside Brain Cells Linked to Alzheimer’s

A newly identified role for the neuronal MPS shows it controls nutrient uptake by acting as a gatekeeper. Its disruption speeds endocytosis and promotes toxic amyloid buildup linked to Alzheimer’s. Brain cells constantly draw in material from the fluid around them, including signaling molecules, nutrients, and even fragments of their own outer membranes. This process, [...]

How does the neuronal MPS affect Alzheimer’s risk?

New role for a neuronal ‘gatekeeper’ alters protein traffic Researchers have identified a previously underappreciated function of the neuronal membrane periodic skeleton (MPS): it regulates how neurons take up nutrients and other cargo. The MPS sits under the cell membrane in neurons and acts like…