Probing the roots of depression by tracking serotonin
regulation at a new level
(June 28, 2012) In a process akin to belling an infinitesimal cat,
scientists have managed to tag a protein that regulates the neurotransmitter
serotonin with tiny fluorescent beads, allowing them to track the movements of
single molecules for the first time.
The capability, which took nearly a decade to achieve, makes
it possible to study the dynamics of serotonin regulation at a new level of
detail, which is important because of the key role that serotonin plays in the
regulation of mood, appetite and sleep.