Calcium (Ca2+) is the primary stimulus for transmembrane protein 16 (TMEM16) Ca2+-activated chloride channels and phospholipid scramblases, which regulate important physiological processes ranging from smooth muscle contraction to blood coagulation and tumor progression. Binding of intracellular Ca2+ to two highly
Neurobiology of learning and memory, 165, 106859-106859 (2018-04-27)
Highly expressed in the mammalian brain and widely distributed across the genome, MeCP2 is a key player in recognizing modified DNA and interpreting the epigenetic information encoded in different DNA methylation/hydroxymethylation patterns. Alterations in sequence or copy number of the
We recently demonstrated that perinatal exposure to the glutamate-related herbicide, glufosinate ammonium, has deleterious effects on neural stem cell (NSC) homeostasis within the sub-ventricular zone (SVZ), probably leading to ASD-like symptoms in offspring later in life. In the present study
Journal of neurochemistry, 147(1), 40-57 (2018-06-20)
Neuritin is a neurotrophic factor that is activated by neural activity and neurotrophins. Its major function is to promote neurite growth and branching; however, the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. To address this issue, this study investigated the effects
Neuropathology and applied neurobiology, 47(6), 812-825 (2021-06-27)
We aim to evaluate if the myelin pathology observed in epilepsy-associated focal cortical dysplasia type 2B (FCD2B) and-histologically indistinguishable-cortical tubers of tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is primarily related to the underlying malformation or constitutes a secondary phenomenon due to the
Highly compacted DNA nanoparticles, composed of single molecules of plasmid DNA compacted with block copolymers of polyethylene glycol and poly-L-lysine (PEG-CK(30)), have shown considerable promise in human gene therapy clinical trials in the nares, but may be less capable of
International journal of molecular medicine, 42(5), 2481-2488 (2018-09-19)
Curcumin is an orange-yellow colored, lipophilic polyphenol substance derived from the rhizome of Curcuma longa that is widely used in many countries. Curcumin has many reported functions, including antioxidant and anti‑inflammatory effects. Autophagy removes damaged organelles and protein aggregates in the
This study comprehensively addresses the phenotype, function, and whole transcriptome of primary human and rodent Schwann cells (SCs) and highlights key species-specific features beyond the expected donor variability that account for the differential ability of human SCs to proliferate, differentiate
Sulfasalazine (SF) promotes remyelination and improves the outcome of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. However, the underlining mechanism remains elusive. Here, we examined whether SF blocks microglia switching to a pro-inflammatory M1-like phenotype through a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) effects in
Adaptor protein (AP) complexes mediate key sorting decisions in the cell through selective incorporation of transmembrane proteins into vesicles. Little is known of the roles of AP-4, despite its loss of function leading to a severe early onset neurological disorder
Activation of Fas (CD95) is observed in various neurological disorders and can lead to both apoptosis and prosurvival outputs, yet how Fas signaling operates dynamically in the hippocampus is poorly understood. The optogenetic dissection of a signaling network can yield
Neurobiology of learning and memory, 175, 107311-107311 (2020-09-12)
Epigenetic factors translate environmental signals into stable outcomes, but how they are influenced by regulators of plasticity remain unclear. We previously showed that androgen receptor overexpression inhibited fear memory in male mice and increased expression of the histone variant H2A.Z
Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950), 194(8), 3675-3686 (2015-03-15)
The autoimmune disease systemic lupus erythematosus has a complex environmental and multifactorial genetic basis. Genome-wide association studies have recently identified numerous disease-associated polymorphisms, but it remains unclear in which cells and during which step of pathogenesis specific polymorphisms interact to
Journal of materials science. Materials in medicine, 23(1), 181-193 (2011-12-20)
Calcium alginate/poly-L-lysine beads were coated with either 50% hydrolyzed poly(methyl vinyl ether-alt-maleic anhydride) (PMM(50)), or with poly(vinyl dimethyl azlactone-co-methacrylic acid) (50:50, PMV(50)), to form covalently shell-crosslinked capsules, and compared with analogous capsules coated with sodium alginate. All capsule types were
Recent improvements in genetically encoded voltage indicators enabled optical imaging of action potentials and subthreshold transmembrane voltage in vivo. To perform high-speed voltage imaging of many neurons simultaneously over a large anatomical area, widefield microscopy remains an essential tool. However, the
The kainate receptors (KARs) are members of the ionotropic glutamate receptor family and assemble into tetramers from a pool of five subunit types (GluK1-5). Each subunit confers distinct functional properties to a receptor, but the compositional and stoichiometric diversity of
Journal of bacteriology, 190(11), 3969-3978 (2008-04-09)
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic bacterial pathogen that is one of the most refractory to therapy when it forms biofilms in the airways of cystic fibrosis patients. To date, studies regarding the production of an immunogenic and protective antigen to
Retinal implants are used to replace lost photoreceptors in blind patients suffering from retinopathies such as retinitis pigmentosa. Patients wearing implants regain some rudimentary visual function. However, it is severely limited compared to normal vision because non-physiological stimulation strategies fail
The Journal of clinical investigation, 130(4), 2024-2040 (2020-01-17)
After trauma, regeneration of adult CNS axons is abortive, causing devastating neurologic deficits. Despite progress in rehabilitative care, there is no effective treatment that stimulates axonal growth following injury. Using models with different regenerative capacities, followed by gain- and loss-of-function
ATM (ataxia telangiectasia mutated) protein is found associated with multiple organelles including synaptic vesicles, endosomes and lysosomes, often in cooperation with ATR (ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3 related). Mutation of the ATM gene results in ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T), an autosomal recessive disorder
The Reelin-Dab1 signaling pathway regulates development of the mammalian brain, including neuron migrations in various brain regions, as well as learning and memory in adults. Extracellular Reelin binds to cell surface receptors and activates phosphorylation of the intracellular Dab1 protein.
Mutations in the GNB1 gene, encoding the Gβ1 subunit of heterotrimeric G proteins, cause GNB1 Encephalopathy. Patients experience seizures, pointing to abnormal activity of ion channels or neurotransmitter receptors. We studied three Gβ1 mutations (K78R, I80N and I80T) using computational
APOE4 is the strongest genetic risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer disease. ApoE4 increases brain amyloid-β pathology relative to other ApoE isoforms. However, whether APOE independently influences tau pathology, the other major proteinopathy of Alzheimer disease and other tauopathies, or tau-mediated
Endocytosis is a fundamental process occurring in all eukaryotic cells. Live cell imaging of endocytosis has helped to decipher many of its mechanisms and regulations. With the pulsed-pH (ppH) protocol, one can detect the formation of individual endocytic vesicles (EVs)
Misfolded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) are destroyed by ER-associated degradation (ERAD). Although the retrotranslocation of misfolded proteins from the ER has been reconstituted, how a polypeptide is initially selected for ERAD remains poorly defined. To address this question while
Loss-of-function mutations in proline-rich transmembrane protein-2 (PRRT2) cause paroxysmal disorders associated with defective Ca2+ dependence of glutamatergic transmission. We find that either acute or constitutive PRRT2 deletion induces a significant decrease in the amplitude of evoked excitatory postsynaptic currents (eEPSCs)
Dendritic cell-targeted protein vaccines: a novel approach to induce T cell immunity.
Interplay between the second messengers cAMP and Ca2+ is a hallmark of dynamic cellular processes. A common motif is the opposition of the Ca2+-sensitive phosphatase calcineurin and the major cAMP receptor, protein kinase A (PKA). Calcineurin dephosphorylates sites primed by
Mutations in the RAB39B gene cause X-linked intellectual disability (XLID), comorbid with autism spectrum disorders or early Parkinson's disease. One of the functions of the neuronal small GTPase RAB39B is to drive GluA2/GluA3 α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptor (AMPAR) maturation and trafficking