Alternative Mechanisms for Fast Na+/Ca2+ Signaling in Eukaryotes via a Novel Class of Single-Domain Voltage-Gated Channels (Current Biology)

Diatoms exhibit fast animal-like action potentials, but many species lack 4D-Cav/Nav channels that underpin membrane excitability in animals. Diatoms do encode novel 1D voltage-gated channels (EukCatAs). Helliwell, Chrachri et al. show that EukCatAs are fast Na+ and Ca2+ channels that provide alternative mechanisms for rapid signaling in eukaryotes.