Adult Human Retinal Pigment Epithelium Can Be Activated into a Multipotent Stem Cell that Produces Mesenchymal Derivatives This study establishes the retinal pigment epithelial stem cell as an accessible, human CNS-derived multipotent stem cell, useful for the study of fate choice, replacement therapy, and disease modeling. [Cell Stem Cell] Abstract | Press Release Rejuvenation of Regeneration in the Aging Central Nervous System Here investigators show that remyelination of experimentally induced demyelination is enhanced in old mice exposed to a youthful systemic milieu through heterochronic parabiosis. [Cell Stem Cell] Abstract | Press Release Diazepam Binding Inhibitor Promotes Progenitor Proliferation in the Postnatal SVZ by Reducing GABA Signaling Here researchers identify the endogenous protein diazepam binding inhibitor as a positive modulator of subventricular zone (SVZ) postnatal neurogenesis by regulating GABA activity in transit-amplifying cells. [Cell Stem Cell] Abstract Somatic Progenitor Cell Vulnerability to Mitochondrial DNA Mutagenesis Underlies Progeroid Phenotypes in Polg Mutator Mice Researchers found that Polg-Mutator mice had neural (NSC) and hematopoietic progenitor (HPC) dysfunction already from embryogenesis. N-acetyl-L-cysteine treatment rescued both NSC and HPC abnormalities, suggesting that subtle ROS/redox changes, induced by mtDNA mutagenesis, modulate somatic stem cell function. [Cell Metab] Abstract | Press Release Rett Syndrome Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Neurons Reveal Novel Neurophysiological Alterations Here, investigators describe the first characterization and neuronal differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells derived from methyl-CpG-binding protein 2-deficient mice. [Molecular Psychiatry] Abstract NAB-1 Instructs Synapse Assembly by Linking Adhesion Molecules and F-Actin to Active Zone Proteins Using Caenorhabditis elegans, scientists identify an F-actin network present at nascent presynaptic terminals and required for presynaptic assembly. [Nat Neurosci] Abstract Cell-Type-Based Analysis of MicroRNA Profiles in the Mouse Brain To systematically analyze microRNA (miRNA) expression in neurons, investigators have established a miRNA tagging and affinity-purification method that is targeted to cell types through the Cre-loxP binary system in mice. [Neuron] Abstract RP58 Controls Neuron and Astrocyte Differentiation by Downregulating the Expression of Id1–4 Genes in the Developing Cortex Here, scientists report that a transcriptional factor, RP58, negatively regulates all four inhibitor of differentiation (Id) genes (Id1–Id4) in developing cerebral cortex. [EMBO J] Abstract GABA Signaling Promotes Synapse Elimination and Axon Pruning in Developing Cortical Inhibitory Interneurons Scientists have combined live imaging of cortical GABAergic axons across time scales from minutes to days with single-cell genetic manipulation of GABA release to examine its role in distinct steps of inhibitory synapse formation in the mouse neocortex. [J Neurosci] Abstract | Press Release Loss of Circadian Clock Accelerates Aging in Neurodegeneration-Prone Mutants Investigators examined the effects of circadian disruption in Drosophila melanogaster mutants that display clock-unrelated neurodegenerative phenotypes. [Neurobiol Dis] Abstract | Press Release Cyp26b1 Mediates Differential Neurogenicity in Axial-Specific Populations of Adult Spinal Cord Progenitor Cells In this study, researchers demonstrate that adult mouse spinal cord progenitor cells (SCPCs) express distinct combinatorial Hox genes and exhibit axial-specific stem cell properties. [Stem Cells Dev] Abstract Organically Modified Silica Nanoparticles Are Biocompatible and Can Be Targeted to Neurons In Vivo Here investigators test the potential of a novel silica based nanoparticle (organically modified silica, ORMOSIL) in living neurons within a whole organism. [PLoS One] Abstract | Press Release |