A new study has shed light on how brain cells process and send information, providing fresh insights into how the brain works and potential treatments for neurological disorders.

The research, conducted by scientists at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Janelia Research Campus, found that tiny structures in brain cells called endoplasmic reticulum-plasma membrane (ER-PM) junctions play a key role in managing calcium levels. These findings challenge previous beliefs about how nerve cells, or neurons, transmit electrical and chemical signals.

How Brain Cells Communicate

Neurons are the main cells in the brain and nervous system. They communicate by sending electrical and chemical signals to each other. Dendrites, the branch-like extensions of neurons, help receive and process these signals. Scientists have long studied how electrical signals travel through dendrites, but the role of calcium, a crucial signalling molecule, has been less understood.

This study discovered that ER-PM junctions are arranged in a pattern along dendrites and act as hubs for calcium signalling. These structures help control the flow of calcium, ensuring that signals can travel efficiently within the neuron.

How This Research Could Help Treat Brain Disorders

The study’s findings could lead to new treatments for brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s and  Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Scientists have linked problems in ER structure to these conditions. The study found that a protein called junctophilin-3 (JPH3) is essential for keeping ER-PM junctions working properly. When JPH3 was removed, the calcium channels did not function correctly, disrupting the way neurons process signals.

This discovery opens up the possibility of developing treatments that target ER-PM junctions and their proteins to restore proper calcium signalling in the brain.

A Breakthrough in Understanding the Brain

The research highlights how ER-PM junctions help neurons process signals across large distances, a mechanism that had been overlooked before. Scientists used advanced imaging techniques to map how these structures are organised in both human and animal brains.

Going forward, researchers will study how these junctions adapt to changing activity in the brain and whether other cell structures, like mitochondria, play a role in this process. They also want to explore how ER-PM junctions contribute to brain diseases and disorders.

This study marks an important step in neuroscience, helping us better understand brain function and potentially offering new ways to treat disorders that affect millions of people worldwide.