What is Artificial Intelligence?

This three-dimensional visualization of synapses shows the tomography mail synaptic vesicles (yellow), cell membrane (purple), connectors between vesicles (red), filaments that anchor the vesicles to the cell membrane (blue), microtubule (dark green), material synaptic space (light green) and postsynaptic density (orange). (Photo Credit: Fernández-Busnadiego et al.)

A new technique in electron microscopy has recently made a breakthrough in observing a huge number of filamentous structures within the presynaptic terminal and learning about their significant role in responding to the electrical activity of the brain.

This new technique is called electron cryotomography, by ultra-fast freezing of cells maintained at liquid nitrogen temperatures (below -140 ºC), researchers are able to obtain three-dimensional images of the cells interior and to minimize any changes to their structure.

Researchers from the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry lead by Rubén Fernández-Busnadiego, were able to study about said filaments connecting the vesicles and how these structures can act as barriers that block the free movement of the vesicles, keeping them in their place until the electric impulse arrives, as well as determining the ease with which they will fuse with the membrane.

During laboratory experiments, the "frozen cells" were maintained at liquid nitrogen temperatures and can be physically observed using specially-equipped microscopes.

Click here to read more about New Technique in Electron Microscopy and Electron Cryotomography.