My favourite protein

Pokemon has always been an inspiration for me. It's what kindled my love of the natural world, despite my urban upbringing. So when I discovered that a protein was named after the beloved mascot of the franchise, Pikachu, I just had to check it out. The protein, named Pikachurin, is essential for our vision, as it it plays a role in the delicate and precise interactions between the photoreceptor ribbon synapse, which is essentially a neuronal synapse connected to photoreceptor cells in the retina where the phototransduction of light into electrical impulses which travel to the CNS occurs, and dendrites. These dendrites act to increase the conduction of electrochemical stimulation received from the light receptive rod and cone cells in the eye, and pass it on to the main cell body of the sensory neurone, so it can travel to the brain. To do this Pikachurin must bind to the less interestingly named Dystroglycan protein. However, incorrect binding of the 2 proteins can result in ocular dystrophies, in which the tissue cells in the eye die prematurely and vision is lost. But why was it named Pikachurin I hear you cry? Well, because the protein in nimble, and pikachu is well known for its speed, and electric attacks (get it? like the electrical impulses that cross the photoreceptor ribbon synapse... SCIENCE BANTER!) Pikachurin may even have therapeutic applications, as the Osaka Science Institute, aptly located in Japan-the birthplace of pokemon, is researching how the protein could be used to treat retinitis pigmentosa, and restore sight to those suffering from the retinal dystrophy. I never could have guessed that such a relatively frail, electric mouse pokemon, that needs a light ball to have any competitive application in the metagame, could inspire the nomenclature for such an essential protein.