Neural Cell News Volume 12.02 | Jan 17 2018

TOP STORY

Surprise: A Virus-Like Protein Is Important for Cognition and Memory

A protein involved in cognition and storing long-term memories looks and acts like a protein from viruses. The protein, called Arc, has properties similar to those that viruses use for infecting host cells, and originated from a chance evolutionary event that occurred hundreds of millions of years ago. [Press release from the University of Utah discussing online prepublication in Cell] Press Release | Abstract | Graphical Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Subcellular Localization of MC4R with ADCY3 at Neuronal Primary Cilia Underlies a Common Pathway for Genetic Predisposition to Obesity

Scientists demonstrated that melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) colocalizes with adenylyl cyclase 3 (ADCY3) at the primary cilia of a subset of hypothalamic neurons, that obesity-associated MC4R mutations impair ciliary localization and that inhibition of adenylyl cyclase signaling at the primary cilia of these neurons increases body weight. [Nat Genet] Abstract | Press Release

N⁶-Methyladenosine RNA Modification Regulates Embryonic Neural Stem Cell Self-Renewal through Histone Modifications

To understand the role of N⁶-methyladenosine (m⁶A) in development, investigators deleted Mettl14 in embryonic neural stem cells (NSCs) in a mouse model. Phenotypically, NSCs lacking Mettl14 displayed markedly decreased proliferation and premature differentiation, suggesting that m⁶A modification enhances NSC self-renewal. [Nat Neurosci] Abstract

Faulty Neuronal Determination and Cell Polarization Are Reverted by Modulating HD Early Phenotypes

By using Huntington’s disease (HD)-derived induced pluripotent stem cell lines, researchers report that early telencephalic induction and late neural identity are affected in cortical and striatal populations. They showed that a large CAG expansion causes complete failure of the neuro-ectodermal acquisition, while cells carrying shorter CAGs repeats showed gross abnormalities in neural rosette formation as well as disrupted cytoarchitecture in cortical organoids. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract

FHL2 Interacts with EGFR to Promote Glioblastoma Growth

The authors report that four-and-a-half LIM protein2 (FHL2) physically interacts with the wild-type epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and its mutated EGFRvIII form in glioblastoma cells. Expression of FHL2 caused increased EGFR and EGFRvIII protein levels and this was due to an increase in protein stability rather than an increase in EGFR mRNA expression. [Oncogene] Abstract

Functional Changes of AMPA Responses in Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell–Derived Neural Progenitors in Fragile X Syndrome

Researchers examined functional maturation of the excitatory transmission system in fragile X syndrome (FXS) by investigating the response of FXS patient–derived neural progenitor cells to the glutamate analog (AMPA). Neural progenitors derived from induced pluripotent stem cell lines generated from boys with FXS had augmented intracellular Ca²⁺ responses to AMPA and kainate that were mediated by Ca²⁺-permeable AMPA receptors lacking the GluA2 subunit. [Sci Signal] Abstract

SOX10 Single Transcription Factor-Based Fast and Efficient Generation of Oligodendrocytes from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells

Scientists demonstrated that overexpression of the transcription factor SOX10 is sufficient to generate surface antigen O4-positive and myelin basic protein-positive oligodendrocytes from human pluripotent stem cells in only 22 days, including from patients with multiple sclerosis or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Impact of Swiprosin-1/Efhd2 on Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis

Researchers hypothesized a detrimental effect of genetic ablation of swiprosin-1/Efhd2 (Efhd2) on hippocampal integrity and specifically investigated adult hippocampal neurogenesis. Efhd2 was expressed throughout adult neuronal development and in mature neurons. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article

BMP/SMAD Pathway Promotes Neurogenesis of Midbrain Dopaminergic Neurons In Vivo and in Human Induced Pluripotent and Neural Stem Cells

Scientists report that bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)5/7 deficient mice (Bmp5^-/-; Bmp7^-/-) lack midbrain dopaminergic (mDA) neurons, caused by reduced neurogenesis in the mDA progenitor domain. [J Neurosci] Abstract

Draxin Regulates Hippocampal Neurogenesis in the Postnatal Dentate Gyrus by Inhibiting DCC-Induced Apoptosis

To elucidate the mechanisms underlying hippocampal neurogenesis, researchers investigated the function of draxin, originally identified as a neural chemorepellent, in the regulation of neuronal survival in the dentate gyrus. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Specific Phospholipids Regulate the Acquisition of Neuronal and Astroglial Identities in Post-Mitotic Cells

Scientists showed that particular phospholipids supplemented in the culture media modify the commitment of post-mitotic neural cells in vitro. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor and EGFRvIII in Glioblastoma: Signaling Pathways and Targeted Therapies

The authors discuss signaling pathways mediated by epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)/EGFRvIII, current therapeutics, and novel strategies to target EGFR/EGFRvIII-amplified glioblastoma. [Oncogene] Abstract

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STEMCELL Technologies Brings Groundbreaking Intestinal and Brain Organoid Culture Tools to the Global Research Community

STEMCELL Technologies Inc. has released two product lines for organoid research that will enable scientists to create powerful models for studying human disease in the lab. [STEMCELL Technologies Inc.] Press Release

CombiGene and Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult Sign Agreement to Develop Manufacturing Process for Novel Gene Therapy to Treat Epilepsy

Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult and CombiGene announced that they will be collaborating on a project to develop manufacturing processes for CombiGenes drug candidate CG01, a novel gene therapy for treatment of epilepsy. [Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult] Press Release

Midatech and UCSF Receive IND Approval for DIPG Treatment MTX110

Midatech Pharma announced approval of the investigational new drug (IND) application from the FDA to conduct a study of MTX110, an investigational nano-inclusion product, for the treatment of the fatal childhood brain cancer DIPG. [Midatech Pharma (GlobeNewswire, Inc.)] Press Release

Western Receives $14 Million for Research Projects

Western University received close to $14,000,000 last week from the Ontario Research Fund for five separate research projects. [Western University] Press Release

Roche’s Ocrevus (Ocrelizumab) Approved in the European Union for Relapsing Forms of Multiple Sclerosis and Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis

Roche announced that the European Commission has granted marketing authorization for OCREVUS^® for patients with active relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis defined by clinical or imaging features and for patients with early primary progressive multiple sclerosis. [F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd.] Press Release

Make Replication Studies ‘A Normal and Essential Part of Science,’ Dutch Science Academy Says

Scientists, universities, funding agencies, and journals alike should be doing much more to ensure the reproducibility of scientific research, according to a new report released by the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences. [Nature News] Editorial

South Korean Universities Reach Agreement with Elsevier after Long Standoff

After a months-long standoff, a consortium of hundreds of South Korean universities has reached a new deal with scientific publisher Elsevier for access to ScienceDirect, a database containing content from 3,500 academic journals and thousands of electronic books. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW Gordon Research Conferences: Basal Ganglia
March 11-16, 2018
Ventura, California, United States

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NEW Postdoctoral Fellowship – Neurodegeneration (Lund University)

NEW Postdoctoral Position – Neurology (University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine)

NEW Postdoctoral Associate – Cerebral Organoids (Weill Cornell Medicine)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Neural Control of Circulation (The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center)

Research Assistant – Neurodegenerative Disease (Thomas Jefferson University)

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

PhD Scholarship – Neuroscience (University of Technology Sydney)

Postdoctoral Position(s) – Neocortex Development/Brain Tumor Biology (St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital)

Professor – Translational Neurology (University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz)

Multiple Faculty Positions – Neuroscience and Neuroengineering (Tsinghua University)

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

Faculty Members – Neuroscience (Mercer University)

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