Neural Cell News Volume 12.12 | Mar 28 2018

TOP STORY

The RNA-Binding Protein ARPP21 Controls Dendritic Branching by Functionally Opposing the miRNA It Hosts

The authors used iCLIP to characterize ARPP21 recognition of uridine-rich sequences with high specificity for 3′UTRs. ARPP21 antagonized miR-128 activity by co-regulating a subset of miR-128 target mRNAs enriched for neurodevelopmental functions. [Nat Commun] Full Article

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A Comprehensive Map Coupling Histone Modifications with Gene Regulation in Adult Dopaminergic and Serotonergic Neurons

Using a strategy that allows for ChIP-seq combined with RNA-seq in small neuronal populations in vivo, investigators present a comparative analysis of permissive and repressive histone modifications in adult midbrain dopaminergic neurons, raphe nuclei serotonergic neurons, and embryonic neural progenitors. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Mutant LRRK2 Mediates Peripheral and Central Immune Responses Leading to Neurodegeneration In Vivo

Scientists showed that mice overexpressing human pathogenic leucine rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) mutations, but not wild-type mice or mice overexpressing human wild-type LRRK2 exhibit long-term lipopolysaccharide-induced nigral neuronal loss. This neurodegeneration is accompanied by an exacerbated neuroinflammation in the brain. [Brain] Abstract | Press Release

A Temporal Transcriptional Switch Governs Stem Cell Division, Neuronal Numbers, and Maintenance of Differentiation

Researchers report the discovery of self-amplifying neural stem cells (NSCs) in Drosophila and showed that they arise by a spatiotemporal conversion of classical self-renewing NSCs. This conversion was regulated by a temporal transition in the expression of proneural transcription factors prior to cell division. They found a causal link between stem cell self-amplification and increased neuronal numbers. [Dev Cell] Full Article | Press Release

A Golgi Lipid Signaling Pathway Controls Apical Golgi Distribution and Cell Polarity during Neurogenesis

The authors showed that two highly related StART-like phosphatidylinositol transfer proteins (PITPs), PITPNA and PITPNB, act in a redundant fashion to support development of the embryonic mammalian neocortex. PITPNA/PITPNB do so by driving PtdIns-4-P-dependent recruitment of GOLPH3, and likely ceramide transfer protein, to Golgi membranes with GOLPH3 recruitment serving to promote MYO18A- and F-actin-directed loading of the Golgi network to apical processes of neural stem cells. [Dev Cell] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Leucine Zipper-Bearing Kinase Is a Critical Regulator of Astrocyte Reactivity in the Adult Mammalian CNS

Using genetic loss and gain-of-function analyses in vivo, researchers showed that the conserved MAP3K13 (also known as leucine zipper-bearing kinase) promotes astrocyte reactivity and glial scar formation after CNS injury. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Press Release | Graphical Abstract

Extracellular Monomeric and Aggregated Tau Efficiently Enter Human Neurons through Overlapping but Distinct Pathways

Scientists report two entry mechanisms for monomeric tau to human neurons: a rapid dynamin-dependent phase typical of endocytosis and a second, slower actin-dependent phase of macropinocytosis. Aggregated tau entry was independent of actin polymerization and largely dynamin dependent, consistent with endocytosis and distinct from macropinocytosis, the major route for aggregated tau entry reported for non-neuronal cells. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Pin1 Mediates Aβ₄₂-Induced Dendritic Spine Loss

Researchers investigated how calcineurin caused spine pathology and found that the cis-trans prolyl isomerase Pin1 was a critical downstream target of Aβ₄₂-calcineurin signaling. In dendritic spines, Pin1 interacted with and was dephosphorylated by calcineurin, which rapidly suppressed its isomerase activity. [Sci Signal] Full Article | Press Release

Human iPSC-Derived Endothelial Cells and Microengineered Organ-Chip Enhance Neuronal Development

Scientists derived both spinal motor neurons and brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs) from human induced pluripotent stem cells and observed increased calcium transient function and chip-specific gene expression in organ-chips compared with 96-well plates. Seeding BMECs in the organ-chip led to vascular-neural interaction and specific gene activation that further enhanced neuronal function and in vivo-like signatures. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article | Press Release

Retinal Ganglion Cell Diversity and Subtype Specification from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells

Investigators examined the diversity of retinal ganglion cells differentiated from human pluripotent stem cells and characterized defined subtypes through the expression of subtype-specific markers. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article

Innate Immune Adaptor TRIF Deficiency Accelerates Disease Progression of ALS Mice with Accumulation of Aberrantly Activated Astrocytes

The authors report that deficiency of the innate immune adaptor TIR domain-containing adaptor inducing interferon-β (TRIF), which is essential for certain toll-like receptor signaling cascades, significantly shortens survival time and accelerates disease progression of ALS mice. [Cell Death Differ] Full Article

Neural Stem Cells from a Mouse Model of Rett Syndrome Are Prone to Senescence, Show Reduced Capacity to Cope with Genotoxic Stress, and Are Impaired in the Differentiation Process

Investigators used a mouse model of Rett syndrome to evaluate whether residual MECP2 activity in neural stem cells induced the senescence phenomena that could affect stem cell function. They demonstrated that the reduced expression of MECP2 is connected with an increase in senescence, an impairment in proliferation capacity, and an accumulation of unrepaired DNA foci. [Exp Mol Med] Full Article

Materials for Neural Differentiation, Trans‐Differentiation, Modeling of Neurological Disease

Scientists summarized the most current applications of materials for neural differentiation for pluripotent stem cells, neuronal trans‐differentiation, and neurological disease modeling. [Adv Mater] Abstract

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

United Neuroscience Signs Collaboration Agreement with French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) Laboratory to Target Protein Associated with Parkinson’s Disease

United Neuroscience, Ltd. announced that it has entered a research collaboration agreement with the Ronald Melki laboratory at the CNRS to investigate applications of the United Neuroscience Endobody technology platform in targeting pathogenic forms of alpha-synuclein protein. [United Neuroscience, Ltd. (PR Newswire Association LLC.)] Press Release

BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics’ Phase III Trial of NurOwn^® in ALS Now Open to Canadian Patients

BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc. announced that it has amended the protocol of its Phase III clinical trial of NurOwn^® for the treatment of ALS. [BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc.] Press Release

Enterin’s Phase IIa RASMET Study in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease Completes Enrollment

Enterin Inc. has completed enrollment of a two-stage Phase IIa study of ENT-01 in patients with Parkinson’s disease. [Enterin Inc. (PR Newswire Association LLC.)] Press Release

GeNeuro and Servier Announce Successful 12-Month Results in Neuroprotection for Phase IIb CHANGE-MS Study with GNbAC1 in Multiple Sclerosis

GeNeuro and Servier announced positive results at 12 months from the CHANGE-MS Phase IIb study of GNbAC1, a novel and promising therapeutic approach for the treatment of MS. [GeNeuro] Press Release

BioArctic Receives Regulatory Approval in Norway for a Clinical Study in Patients with Complete Spinal Cord Injury

BioArctic AB announced that the company has received approval by the Norwegian Medicines Agency departments for medicinal products and medical device and the local ethics committee for inclusion of Norwegian patients in BioArctic’s ongoing clinical Phase I/II study with SC0806. [BioArctic AB] Press Release

Michel Goedert Is Awarded The Brain Prize 2018

Michel Goedert from the Laboratory of Molecular Biology’s Neurobiology Division has been awarded the 2018 Brain Prize. Michel shares the award with fellow neuroscientists Bart De Strooper, Christian Haass and John Hardy “for their groundbreaking research on the genetic and molecular basis of Alzheimer’s disease”. [MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology] Press Release

What are ‘mini-brains’, and how are they being used to study neurological development and disease? Watch Now

India Taps Biologist as New Science Adviser

India has a new science adviser. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government tapped Krishnaswamy VijayRaghavan, a molecular biologist and head of India’s Department of Biotechnology, to fill the post. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Cambridge Analytica Controversy Must Spur Researchers to Update Data Ethics

Revelations keep emerging in the Cambridge Analytica personal-data scandal, which has captured global public attention. But when the dust settles, researchers harvesting data online will face greater scrutiny. And so they should. [Nature News] Editorial

Duke’s Mishandling of Misconduct Prompts New U.S. Government Grant Oversight

The U.S. National Institutes of Health imposed unusual new requirements on researchers based at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, who receive federal funds. The changes are a response to concerns over how the institution handled recent cases involving research misconduct and grant management. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Massive Cyberhack by Iran Allegedly Stole Research from 320 Universities, Governments, and Companies

Nine Iranians working on behalf of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps hacked the computers of 7998 professors at 320 universities around the world over the past five years, an indictment filed by a federal grand jury alleges. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW 8^th EACR-OECI Joint Course: Molecular Pathology Approach to Cancer
June 4-6, 2018
Amsterdam, Netherlands

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NEW Research Fellow/Associate – Neuroscience and Diabetes (Rutgers University)

NEW Postdoctoral Position – Bacterial Virulence Factors (University of California, Irvine)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Neural Control of Circulation (MD Anderson Cancer Center)

Postdoctoral Associate – Tumor Stem Cell Biology (Weill Cornell Medicine)

Postdoctoral Position – Cancer, Immunotherapy, and Fibrosis (University of Alabama at Birmingham)

Scientist – Molecular Neuroscience (Loyola University Chicago)

Postdoctoral Associate – hiPSC-Based Brain Organoids (Rutgers University)

Postdoctoral Position – Neuroscience and Mitochondrial Physiology (University of Moncton)

Postdoctoral Position – Pain in Mouse Models of Spinal Cord Injury (Indiana University)

Postdoctoral Position – Spinal Cord Injury (Nanyang Technological University)

Multiple Faculty Positions – Neuroscience and Neuroengineering (Tsinghua University)

Faculty Members – Neuroscience (Mercer University)

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