Proton-powered pooping

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The top diagram shows the cross-section of worm including muscles that surround the intestine to help the worm defecate. The bottom diagram shows how protons act like neurotransmitters. The protons are pumped out of the intestine and then bind to rec ...
The top diagram shows the cross-section of worm, including muscles that surround the intestine to help the worm defecate. The bottom diagram shows how protons act like neurotransmitters. The protons are pumped out of the intestine and then bind to receptors on the surrounding muscle. Credit: Glen Ernstrom, University of Utah

Muscles usually contract when a neurotransmitter molecule is released from nerve cells onto muscle cells. But University of Utah scientists discovered that bare subatomic protons can act like larger, more complex neurotransmitters, making gut muscles contract in tiny round worms so the worms can poop.


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