Neural Cell News Volume 10.35 | Sep 07 2016

TOP STORY

Purkinje Cells Directly Inhibit Granule Cells in Specialized Regions of the Cerebellar Cortex

Inhibition of granule cells plays a key role in gating the flow of signals into the cerebellum, and it is thought that Golgi cells are the only interneurons that inhibit granule cells. Investigators showed that Purkinje cells, the sole output neurons of the cerebellar cortex, also directly inhibit granule cells via their axon collaterals. [Neuron] Abstract

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Modulating Neuronal Competition Dynamics in the Dentate Gyrus to Rejuvenate Aging Memory Circuits

Scientists showed the reversal of Kruppel-like factor 9 overexpression in mature dentate granule cells (DGCs) restored spines and activity and reset neuronal competition dynamics and NSC activation, leaving the DG modified by a functionally integrated, expanded cohort of age-matched adult-born DGCs. [Neuron] Abstract | Press Release

TRiC Subunits Enhance BDNF Axonal Transport and Rescue Striatal Atrophy in Huntington’s Disease

Scientists recreated the corticostriatal circuit in microfluidic chambers, pairing cortical and striatal neurons from the BACHD model of Huntington’s disease and its WT control. There were reduced synaptic connectivity and atrophy of striatal neurons in cultures in which BACHD cortical and striatal neurons were paired. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Full Article | Press Release

UBE2S, a Novel Substrate of Akt1, Associates with Ku70 and Regulates DNA Repair and Glioblastoma Multiforme Resistance to Chemotherapy

Scientists reported that the knockdown of ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2S (UBE2S) expression inhibited non-homologous end-joining-mediated double-stranded break repair and rendered glioblastoma cells more sensitive to chemotherapy. [Oncogene] Abstract

The Complex Role of Transglutaminase 2 in Glioblastoma Proliferation

Scientists showed that transglutaminase 2 (TG2) plays differential roles in the proliferative process depending on the cell type. In most, but not all, glioblastomas (GBM) models TG2 plays a crucial role in the proliferative process, and some but not all TG2 inhibitors were highly effective at reducing proliferation in a large subset of the GBM models. [Neuro Oncol] Abstract

Familial Alzheimer’s Disease–Associated Presenilin 1 Mutants Promote γ-Secretase Cleavage of STIM1 to Impair Store-Operated Ca²⁺ Entry

Researchers showed that capacitative Ca²⁺ entry was attenuated by presenilins (PS)1-associated γ-secretase activity. Endogenous PS1 and STIM1 interacted in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells, patient fibroblasts, and mouse primary cortical neurons. [Sci Signal] Abstract

Polycaprolactone Microfibrous Scaffolds to Navigate Neural Stem Cells

Scientists used poly (ε-caprolactone) microfibers to create 3D microenvironments in order to investigate growth and differentiation of adult hippocampal stem/progenitor cells in vitro. [Biomacromolecules] Abstract

Apical Polarization of SVCT2 in Apical Radial Glial Cells and Progenitors during Brain Development

Researchers sought to determine the expression and localization of sodium-dependent ascorbic acid cotransporter 2 (SVCT2) during nervous system development. They used C17.2 neural stem cell line, J1ES cells and primary cell cultures derived from the brain cortex to analyze functional SVCT2 activity, ascorbic acid effects in progenitor cells bipolar morphology, and SVCT2 expression levels in different culture conditions. [Mol Neurobiol] Abstract

Fasudil Enhances Therapeutic Efficacy of Neural Stem Cells in the Mouse Model of MPTP-Induced Parkinson’s Disease

Investigators studied the combined therapeutic effect of neural stem cells with fasudil in an 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced Parkinson’s disease mouse model and explored the possible cellular and molecular mechanisms. [Mol Neurobiol] Abstract

β-Escin Selectively Targets the Glioblastoma-Initiating Cell Population and Reduces Cell Viability

Researchers aimed at identifying novel specific inhibitors of glioblastoma-initiating cells (GIC) expansion through use of a large-scale chemical screen of approved small molecules. They reported the identification of the natural compound β-escin as a selective inhibitor of GIC viability. [Oncotarget] Full Article

Emerging Roles of GluN3-Containing NMDA Receptors in the CNS

The reactivation of GluN3-containing NMDA receptors (GluN3A) expression at inappropriate ages may underlie maladaptive synaptic rearrangements observed in addiction, neurodegenerative diseases and other major brain disorders. The authors discuss current evidence for these and other emerging roles for GluN3-NMDARs in the physiology and pathology of the CNS. [Nat Rev Neurosci] Abstract

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Six Teams Seek to Identify Biological Factors That Influence Neural Regeneration

NIH to award $12.4 million over three years as part of audacious effort to reverse blindness. [The National Institutes of Health] Press Release

The European Research Council Funds Brain Research at Umeå University

Dr. Anna Rieckmann at Umeå University has been awarded an ERC Starting Grant by the European Research Council. The awarded EUR 1.5 million will allow her to spend five years researching the neural basis of cognitive functions. [The National Institutes of Health] Press Release

RedHill Announces Approval of a European Patent Supporting RHB-104 for Multiple Sclerosis

RedHill Biopharma Ltd. announced that it has received from the European Patent Office a Notice of Intention to Grant for a new patent covering the use of RHB-104 in the treatment of multiple sclerosis. [RedHill Biopharma Ltd] Press Release

Cancer Experts Unveil Wishlist for US Government ‘Moonshot’

Advisors to the US Cancer Moonshot Initiative have produced a wide-ranging laundry list of research targets for the project — even as its funding remains uncertain. [Nature News] Editorial

Congress Returns, with a Long Science To-Do List and Not Much Time

Congress returns from a 7-week summer break with a lengthy list of unfinished business, some of great interest to the U.S. research community—and just a few weeks to tackle it. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

New Vaccine Coalition Aims to Ward Off Epidemics

A new public-private coalition that aims to derail epidemics by speeding development of vaccines has now hung its shingle with the backing of the Wellcome Trust and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Turkey Sacks Thousands of University Staff

Turkey’s government has sacked 2,346 university staff for suspected ties to July’s attempted military coup in the country. The sackings, announced in a 1 September decree as part of a wider purge of 40,000 civil servants, are the first of an expected wave of dismissals under powers granted by state-of-emergency rules following the coup. [Nature News] Editorial

In Wake of Attacks, German Science Bodies Fend for Animal Research

Germany’s major research institutes have teamed up to publicly defend “responsible” animal testing as a necessary part of biomedical science. [Science News] Editorial

Boom in Unproven Cell Therapies Intensifies Regulatory Debate

Controversial US guidelines attempt to rein in rogue stem-cell clinics. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) 2017 Congress
September 8-12, 2017
Madrid, Spain

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Assistant Professor – Neural Circuits (University of Pittsburgh)

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Faculty Positions – Neural Engineering (University of Pittsburgh)

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