Neural Cell News Volume 11.47 | Nov 29 2017

TOP STORY

Molecular and Cellular Reorganization of Neural Circuits in the Human Lineage

To better understand the molecular and cellular differences in brain organization between human and nonhuman primates, scientists performed transcriptome sequencing of 16 regions of adult human, chimpanzee, and macaque brains. Integration with human single-cell transcriptomic data revealed global, regional, and cell-type–specific species expression differences in genes representing distinct functional categories. [Science] Abstract | Press Release

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

A Single Mutation in the prM Protein of Zika Virus Contributes to Fetal Microcephaly

The authors showed that a single serine-to-asparagine substitution in the viral polyprotein substantially increased Zika virus infectivity in both human and mouse neural progenitor cells and led to more severe microcephaly in the mouse fetus, as well as higher mortality rates in neonatal mice. [Science] Abstract

Injury Induces Endogenous Reprogramming and Dedifferentiation of Neuronal Progenitors to Multipotency

Investigators characterized dedifferentiating cells using several lineage-tracing strains and single-cell mRNA-seq, and they showed that Sox2 is required for initiating dedifferentiation and that inhibition of Ezh2 promotes multipotent progenitor expansion. Their results suggest that the apparent hierarchy of neuronal differentiation is not irreversible and that lineage commitment can be overridden following severe tissue injury. [Cell Stem Cell] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Discovery and Characterization of Stable and Toxic Tau/Phospholipid Oligomeric Complexes

The authors report that the interaction of Tau with vesicles results in the formation of highly stable protein/phospholipid complexes. These complexes are toxic to primary hippocampal cultures and are detected by MC-1, an antibody recognizing pathological Tau conformations. [Nat Commun] Full Article | Press Release

Smek1/2 Is a Nuclear Chaperone and Cofactor for Cleaved Wnt Receptor Ryk, Regulating Cortical Neurogenesis

The mechanism of translocation and how it regulates neuronal differentiation remains unclear. Researchers identified Smek1 and Smek2 as receptor-like tyrosine kinase (Ryk)-intracellular domain (ICD) partners that regulate its nuclear localization and function together with Ryk-ICD in the nucleus through chromatin recruitment and gene transcription regulation. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract | Press Release

iPSC-Based Compound Screening and In Vitro Trials Identify a Synergistic Anti-Amyloid β Combination for Alzheimer’s Disease

Scientists applied the advantage of human iPSC-derived neurons, which offer human-specific drug responsiveness, to screen and evaluate therapeutic candidates for Alzheimer’s disease. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Elevated p53 Activities Restrict Differentiation Potential of MicroRNA-Deficient Pluripotent Stem Cells

Investigators report that miR-302 is sufficient to enable neural differentiation of differentiation-incompetent Dgcr8^−/− embryonic stem cells (ESCs). Their data showed that miR-302 directly suppresses the tumor suppressor p53, which is modestly upregulated in Dgcr8^−/− ESCs and serves as a barrier restricting neural differentiation. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article | Press Release | Graphical Abstract

Cerebral Organoids Reveal Early Cortical Maldevelopment in Schizophrenia—Computational Anatomy and Genomics, Role of FGFR1

Scientists used human embryonic stem cell and induced pluripotent stem cells-derived cerebral organoids from four controls and three schizophrenia patients to model the first trimester of in utero brain development. The schizophrenia organoids revealed an abnormal scattering of proliferating Ki67+ neural progenitor cells from the ventricular zone, throughout the intermediate and cortical zones. [Transl Psychiatry] Full Article | Press Release

Specification of Murine Ground State Pluripotent Stem Cells to Regional Neuronal Populations

Researchers developed protocols for neural fate restriction of mouse PSCs, using knowledge of embryonic development and recent progress with human equivalents. Neural subtypes generated included those of the dorsal forebrain, ventral forebrain, ventral midbrain and hindbrain. [Sci Rep] Full Article

The Mitochondrial UPR: Mechanisms, Physiological Functions and Implications in Aging

The authors discuss the signal transduction mechanisms that regulate the mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPR^mt) and the physiological consequences of its activation that affect cellular and organismal health during aging. [Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol] Abstract

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Biogen and Alkermes Announce License and Collaboration Agreement to Develop and Commercialize ALKS 8700 for the Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis

Biogen and Alkermes plc. announced that they have entered into a global license and collaboration agreement to develop and commercialize ALKS 8700, a novel, oral, monomethyl fumarate small drug molecule in Phase III development for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis. [Biogen] Press Release

Synpromics Announces Collaboration with UCL to Develop Revolutionary Gene Therapy for Parkinson’s Disease

Synpromics Ltd. announced a new collaboration with University College London (UCL) to generate a range of synthetic gene promoters for the central nervous system, to develop a gene therapy for Parkinson’s disease. [Synpromics Ltd.] Press Release

Cure Brain Cancer Supports Brain Cancer Immunotherapy Trials

A three-year fellowship will support Dr. Ryan Cross to translate his research into harnessing immune cells to fight brain cancer, a field known as ‘cancer immunotherapy’. [The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research] Press Release

Enrollment Completed in Flex Pharma’s Phase II Exploratory Spasticity Study in MS

Flex Pharma, Inc. announced that it has completed enrollment in its Phase II exploratory spasticity study in multiple sclerosis (MS) with approximately 50 patients in Australia. [Flex Pharma, Inc.] Press Release

China to Roll Back Regulations for Traditional Medicine Despite Safety Concerns

Support for traditional medicine in China goes right to the top. President Xi Jinping has called this type of medicine a “gem” of the country’s scientific heritage and promised to give alternative therapies and Western drugs equal government support. The country is taking dramatic steps to promote these cures even as researchers raise concerns about such treatments. [Nature News] Editorial

Zimbabwe’s Researchers Hope Political Change Will Revitalize Science

Academics are optimistic that the end of Robert Mugabe’s authoritarian rule could boost research and international collaboration. [Nature News] Editorial

United Kingdom Relies on Science to Revive Flagging Economy

The United Kingdom has laid out how it will pour money into research to boost its economy — including cash for artificial intelligence and other high-tech industries — as the country prepares to leave the European Union in 2019. [Nature News] Editorial

Gene Therapy Hits a Peculiar Roadblock: A Virus Shortage

Eager to speed development of revolutionary treatments, the Food and Drug Administration recently announced that it would expedite approval of experimental gene therapies. But the regulatory process may not be the biggest obstacle. [The New York Times] Editorial

NEW Gordon Research Conferences: Cornea and Ocular Surface Biology and Pathology
February 18-23, 2018
Ventura, California,, United States

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NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Brain 3D Coculture/Organoid Cultures (KU Leuven)

NEW Multiple Faculty Positions – Neuroscience and Neuroengineering (Tsinghua University)

Bioengineer – Stem Cell Research (Scaled Biolabs Inc.)

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

Faculty Position – Neurobiology (NYU Shanghai)

Chief Neuroscience Officer (Wyss Center for Bio and NeuroEngineering)

Postdoctoral Fellow/Associate – Developmental Neurobiology (SUNY Upstate Medical College)

Associate Research Scientist – Neurophysiology (Columbia University)

Associate Professor – Neurology (Massachusetts General Hospital & Harvard Medical School)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Stem Cell Biology and Neuroscience (The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston)

Assistant Professor – Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience (University of British Columbia)

Faculty Position – Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research (Indiana University)

Faculty Members – Neuroscience (Mercer University)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Stem Cell Differentiation (University of Oklahoma)

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