Scientists Just Found a New Kind of Synapse Hiding in The Brains of Mice

A previously unknown type of synapse appears to have been hiding in strange hair-like appendages that can be found on the surface of neurons.

According to a study in mice, structures called primary cilia act as a way to transmit signals to the nucleus and cause changes to the chromosomes.

Scientists may be able to understand the complicated workings of the brain after this discovery.

The doctor of medicine at the Janelia Research Campus of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute says that the special synapse represents a way to change what is being transcribed.

It is like a new dock on a cell that gives express access to changes in the cell's genes.

Primary cilia can be found on the surface of almost all mammals, but their functions are not well understood in some cells.

They can act as an antenna to receive signals from outside. They are involved in processing light.

It's thought that primary cilia are a vestige from our unicellular origins, billions of years ago, but what function they serve in neuron has been a mystery.

The researchers say that they are difficult to make out using traditional techniques because they are so small.

The team led by Shu-Hsien Sheu of Janelia's Clapham Lab was prompted to take a closer look by recent advances in neuroscience.

They studied both living adult mice and fixed brain specimen. They used focused ion beam- scanning electron microscopy to study the neurons in high resolution.

Researchers used a new biosensor in conjunction with a technique called FLIM to observe the biochemical processes taking place inside the cilia in living mice.

The team was able to break the process down step by step. There is a cascade of signals that opens the nucleus of the neuron.

The team believes that signals from the axon-dendrite could be used to implement long-term changes in the cell nucleus.

It is possible that the ciliary synapse is a short-term shortcut to long-term changes.

The next step in the research will be to look at other receptors. The study only focused on one neurotransmitter, but there are many more.

The team wants to investigate the role of primary cilia on other organs. It's always a good thing to understand how the body works. It could lead to the development of more targeted drugs.

It will need to be determined if the ciliary synapse is present and how it works in humans.

"Biology may be useful for people to lead better lives." You can fix things if you know how biology works.

The research has appeared in a journal.