For neurons to function, the appropriate ion-channel proteins must be present where they are needed, including in distal dendrites and axon terminals.
This requires energy, and the guest’s group has developed a mechanistic mathematical model to investigate how neurons can reduce this cost by optimizing where proteins are synthesized within the cell—locally or at more distant sites.
The model’s predictions agree with experimental findings, suggesting that energy optimization is a fundamental operating principle of neurons.
- Bergmann et al: “How energy determines spatial localisation of molecules in neurons”, Nature Communications (2025)”
- Homepage of Tatjana Tchumatchenko
The podcast was recorded on June 24th, 2026 and lasts 1 hour and 44 minutes.
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