Neural Cell News Volume 10.30 | Aug 3 2016

TOP STORY

Div-Seq: Single-Nucleus RNA-Seq Reveals Dynamics of Rare Adult Newborn Neurons

Scientists applied Div-Seq to identify and profile rare newborn GABAergic neurons in the adult spinal cord, a non-canonical neurogenic region. sNuc-Seq and Div-Seq open the way for unbiased analysis of diverse complex tissues. [Science] Abstract

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Midbrain-like Organoids from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells Contain Functional Dopaminergic and Neuromelanin-Producing Neurons

Scientists developed a method to differentiate human pluripotent stem cells into a large multicellular organoid-like structure that contains distinct layers of neuronal cells expressing characteristic markers of human midbrain. [Cell Stem Cell] Abstract | Press Release | Graphical Abstract

Stem Cell-Derived Interneuron Transplants as a Treatment for Schizophrenia: Preclinical Validation in a Rodent Model

Investigators used a dual-reporter embryonic stem cell line to generate enriched populations of parvalbumin- or somatostatin-positive interneurons, which were transplanted into the ventral hippocampus of the methylazoxymethanol rodent model of schizophrenia. [Mol Psychiatry] Abstract

A Screen of FDA-Approved Drugs for Inhibitors of Zika Virus Infection

Researchers interrogated a library of FDA-approved drugs for their ability to block infection of human HuH-7 cells by a newly isolated ZIKV strain. More than 20 out of 774 tested compounds decreased ZIKV infection in the in vitro screening assay. [Cell Host Microbe] Full Article | Press Release

DiSCoVERing Innovative Therapies for Rare Tumors: Combining Genetically Accurate Disease Models with in Silico Analysis to Identify Novel Therapeutic Targets

Researchers used human stem and progenitor cells to develop a genetically accurate novel model of MYC-driven Group three medulloblastoma. [Clin Cancer Res] Abstract | Press Release

The ID1-CULLIN3 Axis Regulates Intracellular SHH and WNT Signaling in Glioblastoma Stem Cells

Investigators report that inhibitor of differentiation (1 ID1) activates glioblastoma stem cell proliferation, self-renewal, and tumorigenicity by suppressing CULLIN3 ubiquitin ligase. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Nucleolin-Mediated RNA Localization Regulates Neuron Growth and Cycling Cell Size

Researchers showed that motor-dependent mRNA localization regulates neuronal growth and cycling cell size. [Cell Rep] Full Article

cGMP Production of Patient-Specific iPSCs and Photoreceptor Precursor Cells to Treat Retinal Degenerative Blindness

Immunologically-matched, induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived photoreceptor precursor cells have the potential to restore vision to patients with retinal degenerative diseases like retinitis pigmentosa. The purpose of this study was to develop clinically-compatible methods for manufacturing photoreceptor precursor cells from adult skin in a non-profit cGMP environment. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Olig2 Regulates Purkinje Cell Generation in the Early Developing Mouse Cerebellum

Scientists performed an independent study to show that Olig2 protein is transiently expressed in the cerebellar ventricular zone during a period when purkinje cells are specified. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Nestin Regulates Neural Stem Cell Migration via Controlling the Cell Contractility

Scientists showed that nestin down-regulation significantly inhibits the migration and contraction of murine neural stem cells, but does not obviously influence the proliferation, filamentous actin content, distribution or focal adhesion assembly of these cells. [Int J Biochem Cell Biol] Abstract

Dynamic Expression of the Mouse Orthologue of the Human Amyotropic Lateral Sclerosis Associated Gene C9orf72 During Central Nervous System Development and Neuronal Differentiation

Researchers showed that the expression levels of the C9orf72 transcripts in the developing and adult mouse brain as well as in differentiating neurons, are dynamic. Besides the strong expression in the cerebellum and motor cortex reported previously, investigators showed for the first time that C9orf72 is expressed strongly in the olfactory bulb and also in the hippocampus. [J Anat] Abstract | Press Release

Fractones: Extracellular Matrix Niche Controlling Stem Cell Fate and Growth Factor Activity in the Brain in Health and Disease

There is accumulating evidence suggesting that extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules play an important role in promoting growth factor access and activity in the stem cell niche. In the adult brain neurogenic zone, where neural stem cells reside, there exist specialized ECM structures, which scientists have named fractones. [Cell Mol Life Sci] Abstract

Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the neural cell research field.

Waterloo Researchers Unveil New Data and Diagnostic Tool at the World’s Largest Alzheimer’s Disease Forum

Two studies involving University of Waterloo researchers presented this week at the 2016 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Toronto highlight a new diagnostic tool that can identify Alzheimer’s disease long before the onset of symptoms as well as the increasing prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease in Ontario. [Press release from the University of Waterloo discussing research presented at 2016 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference, Toronto] Press Release

New Research Adds Evidence on Potential Treatments Targeting Amyloid Beta Proteins in Alzheimer’s Disease

New research findings from the Center for Cognitive Neurology at NYU Langone Medical Center could provide additional clues for future treatment targets to delay Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. [NYU Langone Medical Center] Press Release

ProterixBio and the University of Zurich Receive Michael J. Fox Foundation Grant to Develop a Novel Assay for Alpha-Synuclein Aggregates

ProterixBio, Inc. announced the receipt of a grant from The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. The grant funds a collaboration between ProterixBio and the University of Zurich in Switzerland focused on the development of a novel bioanalytical assay workflow that aims to measure small amounts of aberrant alpha-synuclein in patient specimens. [ProterixBio, Inc.] Press Release

Penn Alzheimer’s Disease Center to Receive $8.8 Million in NIH Funding

The University of Pennsylvania’s Alzheimer’s Disease Core Center has been awarded an estimated $8.8 million over five years from the National Institute on Aging to continue its mission of investigating mechanisms, diagnostics, treatments and strategies for Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementias including Parkinson’s disease, Parkinson’s disease dementia, Lewy Body dementia and frontotemporal lobar degeneration. [The University of Pennsylvania] Press Release

Alzheimer’s Association Issues $7 Million Challenge to Scientists to Spreed Drug Discovery

The Alzheimer’s Association announced a new $7 million investment in clinical trials that target brain inflammation as an innovative avenue for Alzheimer’s disease therapy. [The Alzheimer’s Association] Press Release

U.S. Mental Health Institute Puts Champion of Basic Science at the Helm

Up to now, Joshua Gordon has split his career between working with patients with mental illness and mice designed to mimic that illness. But this fall, the neuroscientist and psychiatrist will take control of the $1.5 billion U.S. National Institute of Mental Health in Bethesda, Maryland. [ScienceInsider] Editorial | Press Release

Russian Scientists Bracing for Massive Job Losses

Russia’s scientific community is reeling from news that the government plans to fire about 10,000 researchers over the next 3 years. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Young Blood Antiaging Trial Raises Questions

A startup company has launched the first clinical trial in the United States to test the antiaging benefits of young blood in relatively healthy people. But there’s a big caveat: It’s a pay-to-participate trial, a type that has raised ethical concerns before, most recently in the stem cell field. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Brain Implants and Gene-Editing Enhancements Worry US Public

Most people in the United States are more worried than enthusiastic about the prospect of scientific advances such as gene editing and brain-chip implants, a survey of thousands suggests. [Nature News] Editorial | Poll

NEW 11^th International BMP Conference
October 26-30, 2016
Boston, United States

Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the neural cell community.

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Stem Cell Biology (Stanford University)

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Neuroscience (University of California Riverside)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Neuroscience/Stem Cell Biology (State University of New York)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Enhancer and Chromatin Mapping in Childhood Brain Tumors (German Cancer Research Center)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Neuroscience (Max Planck Society)

Postdoctoral Research Fellows – Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (The University of Queensland)

Director of the NIH Brain Initiative (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke National Institutes of Health)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Neural Stem Cell/Gene Therapy Research (Thomas Jefferson University)

Postdoctoral Position – Brain Injury and Repair (University of Pennsylvania)

Postdoctoral Fellow Positions – Pharmacology (The University of Tennessee Health Science Center)

Faculty Positions – Brain Research (IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research at Peking University)

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