Brain cells are constantly swallowing material from the fluid that surrounds them - signaling molecules, nutrients, even pieces of their own surfaces - in a process known as endocytosis that is essential for learning, memory and basic neural upkeep.
Now, new research by Penn State scientists has revealed this vital process may be governed by a previously unknown molecular gatekeeper: a lattice‑like structure just beneath the surface of brain cells, or neurons, called the membrane‑associated periodic skeleton or MPS.
In a study published today (Feb. 11) in the journal Science Advances, the researchers demonstrated that the MPS structure lining nerve cells acts as a physical gatekeeper for nearly every major form of endocytosis. The structure, made of repeating rings of proteins, was previously known for helping neurons maintain their shape. The scientists said they now understand it plays a far more active role by deciding where and when cells can take things in.
