Neural Cell News Volume 4.20 | May 26 2010

Cdk5rap2 Interacts with Pericentrin to Maintain the Neural Progenitor Pool in the Developing Neocortex
Researchers find that one of the genes associated with microcephaly, Cdk5rap2, is highly expressed in the neural progenitor pool and that its loss results in a depletion of apical progenitors and increased cell-cycle exit leading to premature neuronal differentiation. [Neuron]

Abrupt Transitions between Prefrontal Neural Ensemble States Accompany Behavioral Transitions during Rule Learning
Here, researchers employed advanced statistical techniques to visualize the trajectories of ensembles of simultaneously recorded medial prefrontal cortex neurons on a trial-by-trial basis as rats deduced a novel rule in a set-shifting task. [Neuron]

Asymmetric Clathrin-Mediated Endocytosis Drives Repulsive Growth Cone Guidance
Here, researchers show that clathrin-mediated endocytosis acts downstream of Ca2+ signals as driving machinery for growth cone turning. [Neuron]

Integrin Signaling Switches the Cytoskeletal and Exocytic Machinery that Drives Neuritogenesis
Researchers report that regulated membrane delivery coordinated with the actin cytoskeleton is crucial for neuritogenesis and identify two independent pathways that use distinct exocytic and cytoskeletal machinery to drive neuritogenesis. [Dev Cell]

Directing Astroglia from the Cerebral Cortex into Subtype Specific Functional Neurons
Researchers show that strong and persistent expression of neurogenic fate determinants driven by silencing-resistant retroviral vectors instructs astroglia from the postnatal cortex in vitro to mature into fully functional, synapse-forming neurons. [PLoS Biology]

Ephb3 Inhibits the Expansion of Neural Progenitor Cells in the SVZ by Regulating p53 During Homeostasis and Following Traumatic Brain Injury
Here, researchers examined the role of ephrinB3-EphB3 signaling in mediating the subventricular zone (SVZ) response to traumatic brain injury. [Stem Cells]

Control of Extracellular Dopamine at Dendrite and Axon Terminals
The conclusion is that the time course of dopamine within the extracellular space of the ventral tegmental area is dependent on both diffusion and reuptake, whereas the activation of D2 receptors on dopamine neurons is primarily limited by reuptake. [J Neurosci]

Presenilin 1 Mutants Impair the Self-Renewal and Differentiation of Adult Murine Subventricular Zone-Neuronal Progenitors via Cell-Autonomous Mechanisms Involving Notch Signaling
Researchers show that viral expression of several presenilin 1 mutants in neural progenitors leads to impaired self-renewal and altered differentiation toward neuronal lineage, in vitro. [J Neurosci]

Smad7 Regulates the Adult Neural Stem/Progenitor Cell Pool in a TGF-Beta and BMP-Independent Manner
Here, researchers investigated neurogenesis in a hypomorphic mouse model for the TGF-beta and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) inhibitor Smad7, with the hypothesis that neural stem and progenitor cell proliferation might be reduced due to increased TGF-beta and BMP signaling. [Mol Cell Biol]

Ubiquitin Regulates GGA3-Mediated Degradation of BACE1
Here, researchers report that the accumulation of beta-site APP-cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) is rescued by the ectopic expression of golgi-localized gamma-ear-containing ARF binding protein 3 (GGA3) in H4 neuroglioma cells depleted of GGA3. [J Biol Chem]

Neural Differentiation from Human Embryonic Stem Cells as a Tool to Study Early Brain Development and the Neuroteratogenic Effects of Ethanol
Using in vitro culture, researchers demonstrate that ethanol exposure, impairs neural progenitors (NPs) survival, affects the differentiation of NPs into neurons and astrocytes, disrupts the actin cytoskeleton and affects the expression of different genes associated with neural differentiation. [Stem Cells Dev]

Neural Precursor Cell Proliferation is Disrupted through Activation of the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor by 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-Dioxin (TCDD)
This study tested the hypothesis that aryl hydrocarbon receptor activation by TCDD disrupts signaling events that regulate neural precursor cell proliferation. [Stem Cells Dev]

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Wins $2.45 Million Grant To Support Stem Cell Research
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and principal investigator Glenn Monastersky have been awarded a four-year $2.45 million grant from the New York Stem Cell Science Program of the Empire State Stem Cell Board. [Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Press Release]

Neuralstem Updates Clinical Trial Progress
Neuralstem, Inc. updated the progress of its ongoing Phase I human clinical trial to treat Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. [Neuralstem, Inc. Press Release]

Podcasts Dedicated to the Latest Neuromuscular Research
Hosted by Kevin Flanigan, M.D., “This Month in Muscular Dystrophy” podcasts highlight the latest in muscular dystrophy and other inherited neuromuscular disease research. [Nationwide Children’s Hospital Press Release]

Neurologist Lyden Named Carmen and Louis Warschaw Chair in Neurology During Dedication Ceremony at Cedars-Sinai
One of the nation’s leading neurologists, Patrick D. Lyden, M.D., has been named the Carmen and Louis Warschaw Chair in Neurology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. [Newswise]

Donald W. Pfaff and Bruce S. McEwen will Share 2010 Foundation Ipsen Neuronal Plasticity Prize
Donald W. Pfaff and Bruce S. McEwen have been named recipients of the 2010 Foundation Ipsen Neuronal Plasticity Prize for their studies on the neuroendocrine control of behavior. They share the prize with Thomas R. Insel, director of the National Institute of Mental Health. [Rockefeller University Press Release]

$1.5 Million Award to Neuroscience Program
Neuroscience undergraduates will get broader laboratory experience, thanks to a $1.5 million grant from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute that bolsters Boston University’s increasingly popular brain research program. [Boston University Press Release]

Chapman Medical in Orange Opens Neuroscience and Spine Facility
Chapman Medical Center in Orange is looking to increase patient access to advanced spinal and neurological treatments with its new facility. [OC Metro]

FDA Approves New Treatment for Late-Onset Pompe Disease
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Lumizyme (alglucosidase alfa) for patients ages 8 years and older with late-onset (non-infantile) Pompe disease, a rare genetic disorder. [Food and Drug Administration, United States]

Notice of Intent to Publish a Request for Applications for Epigenomic Modifications in Neurodevelopment (R01) (NOT-MH-10-014) [National Institute of Mental Health, United States]

Notice of Intent to Publish a Request for Applications for Epigenomic Modifications in Neurodevelopment (R21) (NOT-MH-10-015) [National Institute of Mental Health, United States]

Notice of Intent to Publish a Request for Applications for Unbiased In Vitro Analysis of Neurobiological Function (R01) (NOT-MH-10-016) [National Institute of Mental Health, United States]

NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience Research Competitive Revisions for Studies Focused on Neuropathic Pain or Neural Plasticity to Promote Collaborative Pain Research (R01) (PAR-10-204) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Stem Cell Investor & Executive Networking Conference Event (S.C.I.E.N.C.E.)
June 1, 2010
New York, United States

The Future of Molecular Epidemiology: New Tools, Biomarkers, and Opportunities
June 6-9, 2010
Miami, United States

8th International Conference on Cell and Stem Cell Engineering
June 11-12, 2010
Dublin, Ireland

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

Translational Cancer Medicine 2010 – USA
July 11-14, 2010
San Francisco, United States

United Kingdom National Stem Cell Network (UKNSCN) Annual Scientific Conference
July 12-14, 2010
Nottingham, United Kingdom

Select BioSciences 3rd Annual Stem Cells Europe Conference
August 24-25, 2010
Edinburgh, Scotland

Joint Metastasis Research Society – American Association of Cancer Research Conference on Metastasis and the Tumor Microenvironment
September 12-15, 2010
Philadelphia, United States

Stem Cells USA & Regenerative Medicine Congress 2010
September 13-15, 2010
Philadelphia, United States

4th American Association of Cancer Research International Conference on Molecular Diagnostics in Cancer Therapeutic Development
September 27-30, 2010
Denver, United States

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

2010 World Stem Cell Summit
October 4-6, 2010
Detroit, United States

Translational Cancer Research for Basic Scientists
October 17-22, 2010
Boston, United States

Fraunhofer Life Science Symposium 2010
October 29-30, 2010
Leipzig, Germany

Stem Cell Society Singapore Symposium 2010: Translating Science to Therapy
November 2-3, 2010
Singapore City, Singapore

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

Stem Cell Network 10th Annual Scientific Meeting
November 22-24, 2010
Calgary, Canada

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

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