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Lai LTF, Balaraman J, Zhou F, Matthies D. Cryo-EM structures of human magnesium channel MRS2 reveal gating and regulatory mechanisms. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7207. [PMID: 37938562 PMCID: PMC10632456 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42599-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Magnesium ions (Mg2+) play an essential role in cellular physiology. In mitochondria, protein and ATP synthesis and various metabolic pathways are directly regulated by Mg2+. MRS2, a magnesium channel located in the inner mitochondrial membrane, mediates the influx of Mg2+ into the mitochondrial matrix and regulates Mg2+ homeostasis. Knockdown of MRS2 in human cells leads to reduced uptake of Mg2+ into mitochondria and disruption of the mitochondrial metabolism. Despite the importance of MRS2, the Mg2+ translocation and regulation mechanisms of MRS2 are still unclear. Here, using cryo-EM we report the structures of human MRS2 in the presence and absence of Mg2+ at 2.8 Å and 3.3 Å, respectively. From the homo-pentameric structures, we identify R332 and M336 as major gating residues, which are then tested using mutagenesis and two cellular divalent ion uptake assays. A network of hydrogen bonds is found connecting the gating residue R332 to the soluble domain, potentially regulating the gate. Two Mg2+-binding sites are identified in the MRS2 soluble domain, distinct from the two sites previously reported in CorA, a homolog of MRS2 in prokaryotes. Altogether, this study provides the molecular basis for understanding the Mg2+ translocation and regulatory mechanisms of MRS2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louis Tung Faat Lai
- Unit on Structural Biology, Division of Basic and Translational Biophysics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Jayashree Balaraman
- Unit on Structural Biology, Division of Basic and Translational Biophysics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Fei Zhou
- Unit on Structural Biology, Division of Basic and Translational Biophysics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Doreen Matthies
- Unit on Structural Biology, Division of Basic and Translational Biophysics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA.
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2
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Lai LTF, Balaraman J, Zhou F, Matthies D. Cryo-EM structures of human magnesium channel MRS2 reveal gating and regulatory mechanisms. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.08.22.553867. [PMID: 37662257 PMCID: PMC10473633 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.22.553867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
Magnesium ions (Mg2+) play an essential role in cellular physiology. In mitochondria, protein and ATP synthesis and various metabolic pathways are directly regulated by Mg2+. MRS2, a magnesium channel located in the inner mitochondrial membrane, mediates the influx of Mg2+ into the mitochondrial matrix and regulates Mg2+ homeostasis. Knockdown of MRS2 in human cells leads to reduced uptake of Mg2+ into mitochondria and disruption of the mitochondrial metabolism. Despite the importance of MRS2, the Mg2+ translocation and regulation mechanisms of MRS2 are still unclear. Here, using cryo-EM we determined the structure of human MRS2 in the presence and absence of Mg2+ at 2.8 Å and 3.3 Å, respectively. From the homo-pentameric structures, we identified R332 and M336 as major gating residues, which were then tested using mutagenesis and two cellular divalent ion uptake assays. A network of hydrogen bonds was found connecting the gating residue R332 to the soluble domain, potentially regulating the gate. Two Mg2+-binding sites were identified in the MRS2 soluble domain, distinct from the two sites previously reported in CorA, a homolog of MRS2 in prokaryotes. Altogether, this study provides the molecular basis for understanding the Mg2+ translocation and regulatory mechanisms of MRS2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louis Tung Faat Lai
- Unit on Structural Biology, Division of Basic and Translational Biophysics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda MD 20892, USA
| | - Jayashree Balaraman
- Unit on Structural Biology, Division of Basic and Translational Biophysics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda MD 20892, USA
| | - Fei Zhou
- Unit on Structural Biology, Division of Basic and Translational Biophysics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda MD 20892, USA
| | - Doreen Matthies
- Unit on Structural Biology, Division of Basic and Translational Biophysics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda MD 20892, USA
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3
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Li M, Li Y, Lu Y, Li J, Lu X, Ren Y, Wen T, Wang Y, Chang S, Zhang X, Yang X, Shen Y. Molecular basis of Mg 2+ permeation through the human mitochondrial Mrs2 channel. Nat Commun 2023; 14:4713. [PMID: 37543649 PMCID: PMC10404273 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40516-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Mitochondrial RNA splicing 2 (Mrs2), a eukaryotic CorA ortholog, enables Mg2+ to permeate the inner mitochondrial membrane and plays an important role in mitochondrial metabolic function. However, the mechanism by which Mrs2 permeates Mg2+ remains unclear. Here, we report four cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) reconstructions of Homo sapiens Mrs2 (hMrs2) under various conditions. All of these hMrs2 structures form symmetrical pentamers with very similar pentamer and protomer conformations. A special structural feature of Cl--bound R-ring, which consists of five Arg332 residues, was found in the hMrs2 structure. Molecular dynamics simulations and mitochondrial Mg2+ uptake assays show that the R-ring may function as a charge repulsion barrier, and Cl- may function as a ferry to jointly gate Mg2+ permeation in hMrs2. In addition, the membrane potential is likely to be the driving force for Mg2+ permeation. Our results provide insights into the channel assembly and Mg2+ permeation of hMrs2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Li
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology and Frontiers Science Center for Cell Responses, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Yang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology and Frontiers Science Center for Cell Responses, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Yue Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology and Frontiers Science Center for Cell Responses, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Jianhui Li
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology and Frontiers Science Center for Cell Responses, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Xuhang Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology and Frontiers Science Center for Cell Responses, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Yue Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology and Frontiers Science Center for Cell Responses, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Tianlei Wen
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology and Frontiers Science Center for Cell Responses, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Yaojie Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology and Frontiers Science Center for Cell Responses, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Shenghai Chang
- Department of Biophysics and Department of Pathology of Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Center of Cryo Electron Microscopy, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Xing Zhang
- Department of Biophysics and Department of Pathology of Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Center of Cryo Electron Microscopy, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Xue Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology and Frontiers Science Center for Cell Responses, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300350, China.
| | - Yuequan Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology and Frontiers Science Center for Cell Responses, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300350, China.
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Uthayabalan S, Vishnu N, Madesh M, Stathopulos PB. The human MRS2 magnesium-binding domain is a regulatory feedback switch for channel activity. Life Sci Alliance 2023; 6:e202201742. [PMID: 36754568 PMCID: PMC9909464 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202201742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Revised: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Mitochondrial RNA splicing 2 (MRS2) forms a magnesium (Mg2+) entry protein channel in mitochondria. Whereas MRS2 contains two transmembrane domains constituting a pore on the inner mitochondrial membrane, most of the protein resides within the matrix. Yet, the precise structural and functional role of this obtrusive amino terminal domain (NTD) in human MRS2 is unknown. Here, we show that the MRS2 NTD self-associates into a homodimer, contrasting the pentameric assembly of CorA, an orthologous bacterial channel. Mg2+ and calcium suppress lower and higher order oligomerization of MRS2 NTD, whereas cobalt has no effect on the NTD but disassembles full-length MRS2. Mutating-pinpointed residues-mediating Mg2+ binding to the NTD not only selectively decreases Mg2+-binding affinity ∼sevenfold but also abrogates Mg2+ binding-induced secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structure changes. Disruption of NTD Mg2+ binding strikingly potentiates mitochondrial Mg2+ uptake in WT and Mrs2 knockout cells. Our work exposes a mechanism for human MRS2 autoregulation by negative feedback from the NTD and identifies a novel gain of function mutant with broad applicability to future Mg2+ signaling research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sukanthathulse Uthayabalan
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada
| | - Neelanjan Vishnu
- Center for Mitochondrial Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Muniswamy Madesh
- Center for Mitochondrial Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Peter B Stathopulos
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada
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5
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Franken GAC, Huynen MA, Martínez-Cruz LA, Bindels RJM, de Baaij JHF. Structural and functional comparison of magnesium transporters throughout evolution. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:418. [PMID: 35819535 PMCID: PMC9276622 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04442-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Revised: 05/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Magnesium (Mg2+) is the most prevalent divalent intracellular cation. As co-factor in many enzymatic reactions, Mg2+ is essential for protein synthesis, energy production, and DNA stability. Disturbances in intracellular Mg2+ concentrations, therefore, unequivocally result in delayed cell growth and metabolic defects. To maintain physiological Mg2+ levels, all organisms rely on balanced Mg2+ influx and efflux via Mg2+ channels and transporters. This review compares the structure and the function of prokaryotic Mg2+ transporters and their eukaryotic counterparts. In prokaryotes, cellular Mg2+ homeostasis is orchestrated via the CorA, MgtA/B, MgtE, and CorB/C Mg2+ transporters. For CorA, MgtE, and CorB/C, the motifs that form the selectivity pore are conserved during evolution. These findings suggest that CNNM proteins, the vertebrate orthologues of CorB/C, also have Mg2+ transport capacity. Whereas CorA and CorB/C proteins share the gross quaternary structure and functional properties with their respective orthologues, the MgtE channel only shares the selectivity pore with SLC41 Na+/Mg2+ transporters. In eukaryotes, TRPM6 and TRPM7 Mg2+ channels provide an additional Mg2+ transport mechanism, consisting of a fusion of channel with a kinase. The unique features these TRP channels allow the integration of hormonal, cellular, and transcriptional regulatory pathways that determine their Mg2+ transport capacity. Our review demonstrates that understanding the structure and function of prokaryotic magnesiotropic proteins aids in our basic understanding of Mg2+ transport.
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Affiliation(s)
- G A C Franken
- Department of Physiology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - M A Huynen
- Center for Molecular and Biomolecular Informatics, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - L A Martínez-Cruz
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), Bizkaia Science and Technology Park, Derio, 48160, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - R J M Bindels
- Department of Physiology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - J H F de Baaij
- Department of Physiology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
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6
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Marrink SJ, Monticelli L, Melo MN, Alessandri R, Tieleman DP, Souza PCT. Two decades of Martini: Better beads, broader scope. WIRES COMPUTATIONAL MOLECULAR SCIENCE 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/wcms.1620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Siewert J. Marrink
- Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute & Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials University of Groningen Groningen The Netherlands
| | - Luca Monticelli
- Molecular Microbiology and Structural Biochemistry (MMSB ‐ UMR 5086) CNRS & University of Lyon Lyon France
| | - Manuel N. Melo
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa Oeiras Portugal
| | - Riccardo Alessandri
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering University of Chicago Chicago Illinois USA
| | - D. Peter Tieleman
- Centre for Molecular Simulation and Department of Biological Sciences University of Calgary Alberta Canada
| | - Paulo C. T. Souza
- Molecular Microbiology and Structural Biochemistry (MMSB ‐ UMR 5086) CNRS & University of Lyon Lyon France
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7
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Johansen NT, Bonaccorsi M, Bengtsen T, Larsen AH, Tidemand FG, Pedersen MC, Huda P, Berndtsson J, Darwish T, Yepuri NR, Martel A, Pomorski TG, Bertarello A, Sansom MS, Rapp M, Crehuet R, Schubeis T, Lindorff-Larsen K, Pintacuda G, Arleth L. Mg 2+-dependent conformational equilibria in CorA and an integrated view on transport regulation. eLife 2022; 11:71887. [PMID: 35129435 PMCID: PMC8865849 DOI: 10.7554/elife.71887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The CorA family of proteins regulates the homeostasis of divalent metal ions in many bacteria, archaea, and eukaryotic mitochondria, making it an important target in the investigation of the mechanisms of transport and its functional regulation. Although numerous structures of open and closed channels are now available for the CorA family, the mechanism of the transport regulation remains elusive. Here, we investigated the conformational distribution and associated dynamic behaviour of the pentameric Mg2+ channel CorA at room temperature using small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) in combination with molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR). We find that neither the Mg2+-bound closed structure nor the Mg2+-free open forms are sufficient to explain the average conformation of CorA. Our data support the presence of conformational equilibria between multiple states, and we further find a variation in the behaviour of the backbone dynamics with and without Mg2+. We propose that CorA must be in a dynamic equilibrium between different non-conducting states, both symmetric and asymmetric, regardless of bound Mg2+ but that conducting states become more populated in Mg2+-free conditions. These properties are regulated by backbone dynamics and are key to understanding the functional regulation of CorA.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marta Bonaccorsi
- Centre de RMN à Très hauts Champs de Lyon, UMR 5280, CNRS, University of Lyon, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Tone Bengtsen
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Andreas Haahr Larsen
- Condensed Matter Physics, Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen E, Denmark
| | | | - Martin Cramer Pedersen
- Condensed Matter Physics, Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen E, Denmark
| | - Pie Huda
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Jens Berndtsson
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Tamim Darwish
- National Deuteration Facility, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organization, Lucas Heights, Australia
| | - Nageshewar Rao Yepuri
- National Deuteration Facility, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organization, Lucas Heights, Australia
| | | | - Thomas Günther Pomorski
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Andrea Bertarello
- Centre de RMN à Très hauts Champs de Lyon, UMR 5280, CNRS, University of Lyon, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Mark Sp Sansom
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Mikaela Rapp
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ramon Crehuet
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Tobias Schubeis
- Centre de RMN à Très hauts Champs de Lyon, UMR 5280, CNRS, University of Lyon, Villeurbanne, France
| | | | - Guido Pintacuda
- Centre de RMN à Très hauts Champs de Lyon, UMR 5280, CNRS, University of Lyon, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Lise Arleth
- Condensed Matter Physics, Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Guardiani C, Cecconi F, Chiodo L, Cottone G, Malgaretti P, Maragliano L, Barabash ML, Camisasca G, Ceccarelli M, Corry B, Roth R, Giacomello A, Roux B. Computational methods and theory for ion channel research. ADVANCES IN PHYSICS: X 2022; 7:2080587. [PMID: 35874965 PMCID: PMC9302924 DOI: 10.1080/23746149.2022.2080587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Ion channels are fundamental biological devices that act as gates in order to ensure selective ion transport across cellular membranes; their operation constitutes the molecular mechanism through which basic biological functions, such as nerve signal transmission and muscle contraction, are carried out. Here, we review recent results in the field of computational research on ion channels, covering theoretical advances, state-of-the-art simulation approaches, and frontline modeling techniques. We also report on few selected applications of continuum and atomistic methods to characterize the mechanisms of permeation, selectivity, and gating in biological and model channels.
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Affiliation(s)
- C. Guardiani
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria Meccanica e Aerospaziale, Sapienza Università di Roma, Rome, Italy
| | - F. Cecconi
- CNR - Istituto dei Sistemi Complessi, Rome, Italy and Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, INFN, Roma1 section. 00185, Roma, Italy
| | - L. Chiodo
- Department of Engineering, Campus Bio-Medico University, Rome, Italy
| | - G. Cottone
- Department of Physics and Chemistry-Emilio Segrè, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - P. Malgaretti
- Helmholtz Institute Erlangen-Nürnberg for Renewable Energy (IEK-11), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Erlangen, Germany
| | - L. Maragliano
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy, and Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy
| | - M. L. Barabash
- Department of Materials Science and Nanoengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
| | - G. Camisasca
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria Meccanica e Aerospaziale, Sapienza Università di Roma, Rome, Italy
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università Roma Tre, Rome, Italy
| | - M. Ceccarelli
- Department of Physics and CNR-IOM, University of Cagliari, Monserrato 09042-IT, Italy
| | - B. Corry
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia
| | - R. Roth
- Institut Für Theoretische Physik, Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - A. Giacomello
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria Meccanica e Aerospaziale, Sapienza Università di Roma, Rome, Italy
| | - B. Roux
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago IL, USA
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