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Spatial Organization and Diffusion in Neuronal Signaling

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Computational Systems Neurobiology

Abstract

The intricate architecture of neuronal cells suggests that morphology plays a key role in cellular function. Yet descriptions and analyses of neuronal signaling systems often focus solely on biochemical reaction pathways. Models developed from these data implicitly assume that reactions occur in well mixed homogenous environments with instantaneous diffusion. However, if we have any hope of building truly predictive quantitative models, the intricate geometries and large length scales of neurons compel us to explicitly account for molecular diffusion and spatial organization.

The intricate architecture of neuronal cells suggests that morphology plays a key role in cellular function. Yet descriptions and analyses of neuronal signaling systems often focus solely on biochemical reaction pathways. Models developed from these data implicitly assume that reactions occur in well mixed homogenous environments with instantaneous diffusion. However, if we have any hope of building truly predictive quantitative models, the intricate geometries and large length scales of neurons compel us to explicitly account for molecular diffusion and spatial organization.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Courtesy of Maryanne Martone, Mark Ellisman and Masako Terada of the National Center for Microscopy and Imaging Research in San Diego, CA.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Connecticut Health Center, Center for Cell Analysis & Modeling, 263 Farmington Avenue, CT, 06030-6406, Farmington, USA

    Sherry-Ann Brown, Raquell M. Holmes & Leslie M. Loew

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  1. Sherry-Ann Brown
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  2. Raquell M. Holmes
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  3. Leslie M. Loew
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Correspondence to Leslie M. Loew .

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  1. European Bioinformatics Institute, EMBL-Outstation-Hinxton, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Welcome-Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, CB10 1SD, United Kingdom

    N. Le Novère

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Brown, SA., Holmes, R.M., Loew, L.M. (2012). Spatial Organization and Diffusion in Neuronal Signaling. In: Le Novère, N. (eds) Computational Systems Neurobiology. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-3858-4_5

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