National Institute of
General Medical Sciences

255033007822151275165014284561279248800PublicAssets/3734These ripples of color represent the outer membrane of the nucleus inside an astrocyte, a star-shaped cell inside the brain. Some proteins (green) act as keys to unlock other proteins (red) that form gates to let small molecules in and out of the nucleus (blue). Visualizing these different cell components at the boundary of the astrocyte nucleus enables researchers to study the molecular and physiological basis of neurological disorders, such as hydrocephalus, a condition in which too much fluid accumulates in the brain, and scar formation in brain tissue leading to abnormal neuronal activity affecting learning and memory. Scientists have now identified a pathway may be common to many of these brain diseases and begun to further examine it to find ways to treat certain brain diseases and injuries. To learn more about this topic, see this <a href="http://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/scientists-uncover-nuclear-process-brain-may-affect-disease/">news release</a> describing this research.Katerina Akassoglou, Gladstone Institute for Neurological Disease & UCSFKaterina Akassoglou, Gladstone Institute for Neurological Disease & UCSFIllustration