Charybdotoxin, a toxin produced by scorpions, blocks a K+channel by binding in a lock-and-key fashion to the mouth of the channel and presenting a lysine amino group, which serves as a K+mimic in the selectivity filter.
The ability of Manduca moths to recognize changes in the profile of volatile compounds released by plants being attacked by Manduca caterpillars allows them to lay their eggs on plants that are less likely to be attacked by insects and other predators, and to avoid competing against other caterpillars of the same species for resources.
S Allmann, A Späthe, S Bisch-Knaden, M Kallenbach, A Reinecke, S Sachse, IT Baldwin, BS Hansson
Exposing rats to acute stress increased the generation of new neurons in a subregion of the hippocampus, and improved the animals' performance in a memory task two weeks later.
ED Kirby, SE Muroy, WG Sun, D Covarrubias, MJ Leong, LA Barchas, D Kaufer
A gene that codes for a transcription factor that is involved in lipid and carbohydrate metabolism also has a role in the regulation of circadian rhythms.
K Shimomura, V Kumar, N Koike, T Kim, J Chong, ED Buhr, AR Whiteley, SS Low, C Omura, D Fenner, JR Owens, M Richards, S Yoo, H Hong, MH Vitaterna, J Bass, MT Pletcher, T Wiltshire, J Hogenesch, PL Lowrey, JS Takahashi
By using different groups of cells to represent distinct environments and events, the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus helps to keep memories of similar events separate.