Neural Cell News Volume 5.16 | Apr 27 2011

Substrate-Modulated Gating Dynamics in a Na+-Coupled Neurotransmitter Transporter Homologue
Researchers investigated how substrate binding is coupled to structural transitions in LeuT during Na+-coupled transport. Here researchers report a process whereby substrate binding from the extracellular side of LeuT facilitates intracellular gate opening and substrate release at the intracellular face of the protein. [Nature]

Ablation of Fmrp in Adult Neural Stem Cells Disrupts Hippocampus-Dependent Learning
Here researchers show that ablation of Fmrp in neural stem and progenitor cells by inducible gene recombination leads to reduced hippocampal neurogenesis in vitro and in vivo, as well as markedly impairing hippocampus-dependent learning in mice. [Nat Med]

Reelin, Rap1 and N-cadherin Orient the Migration of Multipolar Neurons in the Developing Neocortex
Here researchers show that Reelin, the Rap1 GTPase and N-cadherin are important for multipolar neurons to polarize their migration toward the cortical plate. [Nat Neurosci]

Mechanism of Ca2+/Calmodulin-Dependent Kinase II Regulation of AMPA Receptor Gating
Researchers show that Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent kinase II increases the conductance of native heteromeric AMPA receptors in mouse hippocampal neurons through phosphorylation of Ser831. [Nat Neurosci]

Regeneration of Axons in Injured Spinal Cord by Activation of Bone Morphogenetic Protein/Smad1 Signaling Pathway in Adult Neurons
Here, researchers show that Smad1-dependent bone morphogenetic protein signaling is developmentally regulated and governs axonal growth in dorsal root ganglion neurons. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA]

Schwann Cell Spectrins Modulate Peripheral Nerve Myelination
Here, researchers demonstrate that the submembranous cytoskeletal proteins aII and ßII spectrin are polarized in Schwann cells and colocalize with signaling molecules known to modulate myelination in vitro. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA]

Direct Reprogramming of Mouse Fibroblasts to Neural Progenitors
Results provide a unique paradigm for induced pluripotent stem cell-factor–based reprogramming by demonstrating that it can be readily modified to serve as a general platform for transdifferentiation. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA]

FoxM1 in Tumorigenicity of the Neuroblastoma cells and Renewal of the Neural Progenitors
In this study, researchers investigate the roles of FoxM1 in the tumorigenicity of neuroblastoma. They show that depletion of FoxM1 inhibits anchorage-independent growth and tumorigenicity in mouse xenografts. [Cancer Res]

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells for Neural Tissue Engineering
Researchers derived neural crest stem cells (NCSCs) from human induced pluripotent stem cells and embryonic stem cells, and investigated the potential of NCSCs for neural tissue engineering. [Biomaterials]

Array-Based Functional Screening of Growth Factors Toward Optimizing Neural Stem Cell Microenvironments
To gain insights into the effect of various growth factors on the behaviors of neural stem cells, cell culture assays were performed on the array that displayed five different growth factors including basic fibroblast growth factor, epidermal growth factor, insulin-like growth factor-1, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and ciliary neurotrophic factor. [Biomaterials]

Lilly and Medtronic Announce Drug-Device Collaboration for Parkinson’s Disease
Eli Lilly and Company and Medtronic, Inc. announced they have entered into a collaboration to research and develop a new approach to treating Parkinson’s disease that involves delivering a potential new medicine to the brain using an implantable drug delivery system. [Medtronic, Inc. Press Release]

Prana Accelerates PBT2 Commercial Development
Prana Biotechnology announced its business strategy to accelerate development of its lead asset, PBT2. [Prana Biotechnology Limited Press Release]

Bristol Neuroscience Facilitator Receives 2011 University Engagement Award
Dr Anne Cooke, facilitator for Bristol Neuroscience has won this year’s University of Bristol Engagement Award. [University of Bristol Press Release]

National Institutes of Health (United States)

Food and Drug Administration (United States)

Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (United States)

European Medicines Agency (European Union)

Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (United Kingdom)

Therapeutic Goods Administration (Australia)

Lab Technologist – Human Embryonic and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (STEMCELL Technologies)

Research Position on Imaging Neurodegeneration (Singapore Bioimaging Consortium)

Tenure Track, Assistant/Associate Professor (University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine)

Translational Neuroscience Scholars: Neurodegenerative and Neuromuscular Diseases (University of Minnesota)

Neuroscience Center Director (The University of Texas Health Science Center)

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