fig 6. Proposed role of PIKE in neuroprotection.

PIKE GTPases protect the neuron from excitotoxicity-induced dysfunction and cell death by dual mechanisms: they limit the ampount of Ca²⁺-impermeable AMPA-R (GluA2) on the cell surface to prevent excessive Ca²⁺ influx and activate the PI3K/Akt pathway to block the death signaling induced by prolonged elevation of intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration ([Ca²⁺]_i).