Neural Cell News Volume 4.18 | May 12 2010

Genome-Wide Analysis of Genetic Loci Associated With Alzheimer Disease
Genome-wide association studies have recently identified CLU, PICALM, and CR1 as novel genes for late-onset Alzheimer disease. [JAMA]

The Fusogen EFF-1 Controls Sculpting of Mechanosensory Dendrites
Researchers examined the dynamic development of two arborized mechanoreceptor neurons (PVDs) required for reception of strong mechanical stimuli in Caenorhabditis elegans. [Science]

Dlg1-PTEN Interaction Regulates Myelin Thickness to Prevent Damaging Peripheral Nerve Overmyelination
Here, researchers show that in Schwann cells, mammalian disc large 1 (Dlg1) interacts with PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10) to inhibit axonal stimulation of myelination. [Science]

Tissue-Type Plasminogen Activator is a Neuroprotectant in the Mouse Hippocampus
Here, researchers have demonstrated that hippocampal areas of the mouse brain lacking tissue-type plasminogen activator activity are more vulnerable to neuronal death following an ischemic insult. [J Clin Invest]

Epigenetic Regulation of miR-184 by MBD1 Governs Neural Stem Cell Proliferation and Differentiation
Here, researchers show that methyl-CpG binding protein 1 (MBD1) regulates the expression of several microRNAs in adult neural stem/progenitor cells and, specifically, that miR-184 is directly repressed by MBD1. [Cell Stem Cell]

Normal Movement Selectivity in Autism
Movement selectivity is a defining characteristic of neurons involved in movement perception, including mirror neurons, and, as such, these findings argue against a mirror system dysfunction in autism. [Neuron]

Neurexins Physically and Functionally Interact with GABA(A) Receptors
Researchers found that when overexpressed in neurons, neurexins do not increase synapse density, but instead selectively suppressed GABAergic synaptic transmission without decreasing GABAergic synapse numbers. [Neuron]

Paternal Recognition of Adult Offspring Mediated by Newly Generated CNS Neurons
Researchers found that paternal-adult offspring recognition behavior in mice was dependent on postnatal offspring interaction and was associated with increased neurogenesis in the paternal olfactory bulb and hippocampus. [Nature Neuroscience]

G(Beta)5 Recruits R7 RGS Proteins to GIRK Channels to Regulate the Timing of Neuronal Inhibitory Signaling
Researchers found that mouse RGS7-G(beta)5 complexes bound to G protein–gated potassium channels and facilitated their functional coupling to GABA(B) receptors in neurons. [Nature Neuroscience]

Neurons Derive from the More Apical Daughter in Asymmetric Divisions in the Zebrafish Neural Tube
Researchers found that asymmetric inheritance of a subcellular domain is strongly correlated with asymmetric daughter fates and the results reveal an unexpected feature of this process. [Nature Neuroscience]

OSVZ Progenitors of Human and Ferret Neocortex are Epithelial-Like and Expand by Integrin Signaling
Researchers found that progenitors in the outer SVZ (OSVZ) of developing human neocortex retain features of radial glia, in contrast to rodent SVZ progenitors, which have limited proliferation potential. [Nature Neuroscience]

Sublayer-Specific Microcircuits of Corticospinal and Corticostriatal Neurons in Motor Cortex
Researchers found that the main excitatory pathway in mouse motor cortex, layer 2/3 to 5, is fractionated into distinct pathways targeting corticospinal and corticostriatal neurons, which are involved in motor control. [Nature Neuroscience]
 

Anavex Reports Animal Study Results as Lead Alzheimer’s Compound Approaches Phase I Clinical Trials
Anavex Life Sciences Corporation is pleased to report promising results from animal studies with ANAVEX 2-73, the company’s lead compound for the treatment and modification of Alzheimer’s disease. [Anavex Life Sciences Corporation Press Release]

EnVivo Initiates Phase IIB Alzheimer’s Disease Trial For EVP-6124
EnVivo Pharmaceuticals announced the initiation and dosing of patients in a Phase IIb study of its EVP-6124 compound, a selective alpha-7 nicotinic agonist in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease. [Medical News Today]

Double Neuroscience Success
Two university academics, both leaders in different aspects of neuroscience research, have received one of the leading honours in medical science. [Cardiff University Press Release]

NIAMS and NINDS Announce Multicenter Award for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Research
The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) are launching a five-year, $7.5 million natural history study of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. [National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Press Release]

Neuralstem, Inc. to Present At World Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Congress
Neuralstem, Inc. CEO and President, Richard Garr, has been invited to present at the Fifth Annual World Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Congress, held May 11-13, in London, UK. Neuralstem is currently in a Phase I clinical trial to treat Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis with its spinal cord stem cells. [Neuralstem, Inc. Press Release]

UC Irvine to Dedicate Sue and Bill Gross Hall: A CIRM Institute
UC Irvine will dedicate its $80-million, 100,000-square-foot stem cell research building Friday, May 14. Reflecting the campus’s deep commitment to shaping the future of healthcare, Sue and Bill Gross Hall: A CIRM Institute is the first major stem cell center in Southern California, a region known for biomedical innovation. [UC Irvine Press Release]

NSF to Ask Every Grant Applicant for Data Management Plan
Scientists seeking funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) will soon need to spell out how they plan to manage the data they hope to collect. It’s part of a broader move by NSF and other federal agencies to emphasize the importance of community access to data. [National Science Foundation, United States]

$1.9 Million Grant to Help UCF Find Multiple Sclerosis ‘Nerve-ana’
A National Institutes of Health grant will help University of Central Florida researchers explore new ways to potentially reverse the damage caused by multiple sclerosis and other neurological disorders. [National Institutes of Health, United States]

NIH Starts to Flesh out Drug Development Program
Lawmakers began discussing the details of a newly created drug development program at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). NIH Director Francis Collins told a Senate panel that he’s eager to get started—once the program has a budget. [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Enhancing Peer Review: Expectation for Service on NIH Peer Review and Advisory Groups (NOT-OD-10-089) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Drug Safety and Risk Management Advisory Committee; Notice of Meeting (Docket No. FDA-2010-N-0001) [Food and Drug Administration, United States]

Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Experimental Study of Patient Information Prototypes (Docket No. FDA-2010-N-0184) [Food and Drug Administration, United States]

2010 Canadian Neuroscience Meeting
May 15-18, 2010
Ottawa, Canada

International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) 8th Annual Meeting
June 16-19, 2010
San Francisco, United States

BIT’s 1st World Congress of NeuroTalk 2010
June 25-28, 2010
Singapore City, Singapore

7th Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS) Forum of European Neuroscience
July 3-7, 2010
Amsterdam, The Netherlands

6th International Symposium on Neuroprotection and Neurorepair
October 1-4, 2010
Rostock, Germany

40th Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuroscience 2010
November 13-17, 2010
San Diego, United States

Visit our events page to stay up to date with the latest events in the cell, gene and immunotherapy community.

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