A geometric morphometric analysis of wing variations in shape and size of the blue bottle fly, Calliphora vicina (Diptera: Calliphoridae).

A geometric morphometric analysis was performed on the right wing of adult Calliphora vicina (Robineau-Desvoidy) collected across 4 altitudinal levels in Sicily. The objective of this study was to assess differences in shape and centroid size (CS) between females and males and across elevations. The wings analyzed in this study were removed from adults of C.

Integrin-KCNB1 potassium channel complexes regulate neocortical neuronal development and are implicated in epilepsy.

Potassium (K) channels are robustly expressed during prenatal brain development, including in progenitor cells and migrating neurons, but their function is poorly understood. Here, we investigate the role of voltage-gated K channel KCNB1 (Kv2.1) in neocortical development.

Non-conducting functions of ion channels: The case of integrin-ion channel complexes.

Started as an academic curiosity more than two decades ago, the idea that ion channels can regulate cellular processes in ways that do not depend on their conducting properties (non-ionic functions) gained traction and is now a flourishing area of research. Channels can regulate physiological processes including actin cytoskeletal remodeling, cell motility, excitation-contraction coupling, non-associative learning and embryogenesis, just to mention some, through non-ionic functions. When defective, non-ionic functions can give rise to channelopathies involved in cancer, neurodegenerative disease and brain trauma.

Antagonistic roles of Ras-MAPK and Akt signaling in integrin-K channel complex-mediated cellular apoptosis.

Complexes formed with α5-integrins and the voltage-gated potassium (K ) channel KCNB1 (Kv2.1), known as IKCs, transduce the electrical activity at the plasma membrane into biochemical events that impinge on cytoskeletal remodeling, cell differentiation, and migration. However, when cells are subject to stress of oxidative nature IKCs turn toxic and cause inflammation and death.