Neural Cell News Volume 7.04 | Jan 30 2013

Interaction between Autism-Linked MDGAs and Neuroligins Suppresses Inhibitory Synapse Development
Scientists showed that MAM domain-containing glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor (MDGA)1 and MDGA2 bound to neuroligin-2 inhibitory synapse-organizing protein, also implicated in neurodevelopmental disorders. MDGA1 inhibited the synapse-promoting activity of neuroligin-2, without altering neuroligin-2 surface trafficking, by inhibiting interaction of neuroligin-2 with neurexin. [J Cell Biol] Abstract

S-Nitrosylation of HDAC2 Regulates the Expression of the Chromatin-Remodeling Factor Brm during Radial Neuron Migration
Scientists showed that histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2) nitrosylation regulates neuronal radial migration during cortical development. Bead-array analysis performed in the developing cortex revealed that brahma (Brm), a subunit of the ATP-dependent chromatin-remodeling complex BRG/brahma-associated factor, is one of the genes regulated by S-nitrosylation of HDAC2. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract

Slitrks Control Excitatory and Inhibitory Synapse Formation with LAR Receptor Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases
Investigators report that Slit- and Trk-like proteins (Slitrks) are enriched in postsynaptic densities in rat brains. Overexpression of Slitrks promoted synapse formation, whereas RNAi-mediated knockdown of Slitrks decreased synapse density. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract

The Potential of Apolipoprotein E4 to Act as a Substrate for Primary Cultures of Hippocampal Neurons
Scientists examined the effect of surface-bound apolipoprotein E4 (apoE4) on developmental features of rat hippocampal neurons. They showed that apoE4 substrates elicit significantly enhanced values in all developmental features at day two of culture when compared to laminin substrates, which is the current substrate-of-choice for neuronal cultures. [Biomaterials] Abstract | Press Release

A Point Mutation in Semaphorin 4A Associates with Defective Endosomal Sorting and Causes Retinal Degeneration
Researchers generated a series of knock-in mouse lines with corresponding mutations (D345H, F350C or R713Q) in the semaphorin 4A (Sema4A) gene and found that Sema4A^F350C causes retinal degeneration phenotypes. The F350C mutation results in abnormal localization of the Sema4A protein, leading to impaired endosomal sorting of molecules indispensable for photoreceptor survival. [Nat Commun] Abstract

Glial Cells Decipher Synaptic Competition at the Mammalian Neuromuscular Junction
Using simultaneous glial Ca²⁺ imaging and synaptic recordings of dually innervated mouse neuromuscular junctions, researchers report that single glial cells decipher the strength of competing nerve terminals. Activity of single glial cells, revealed by Ca²⁺ responses, reflects the synaptic strength of each competing nerve terminal and the state of synaptic competition. [J Neurosci] Abstract

MicroRNA-195 Inhibits the Proliferation of Human Glioma Cells by Directly Targeting Cyclin D1 and Cyclin E1
Researchers found that expression of microRNA-195 (miR-195) was markedly downregulated in glioma cell lines and human primary glioma tissues, compared to normal human astrocytes and matched non-tumor associated tissues. [PLoS One] Full Article

Transglial Transmission at the Dorsal Root Ganglion Sandwich Synapse: Glial Cell to Postsynaptic Neuron Communication
Researchers showed that in chick or rat ‘sandwich synapse’ the neuronal somata (NS)-to-satellite glial cell (SGC) leg of the two-synapse pathway is purinergic via P2Y2 receptors but the second SGC-to-NS synapse mechanism remains unknown. [Eur J Neurosci] Abstract

Temozolomide Suppresses MYC via Activation of TAp63 to Inhibit Progression of Human Glioblastoma
Scientists demonstrated that temozolomide (TMZ) targets TAp63, a p53 family member, inducing its expression to suppress the progression of human glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). High levels of TAp63 expression in GBM tissues after TMZ treatment was an indicator of favourable prognosis. [Sci Rep]
Full Article

Professor Robert W. Williams, PhD, at The University of Tennessee Health Science Center Selected by European Commission to Participate in Human Brain Project
The European Commission has officially announced the selection of the Human Brain Project as one of its two Future & Emerging Technologies Flagship projects. The new project will federate European efforts to address one of the greatest challenges of modern science: understanding the human brain. [University of Tennessee Health Science Center] Press Release

FDA Approves Genzyme’s AUBAGIO^® (Teriflunomide), a Once-Daily, Oral Treatment for Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis
Genzyme, a Sanofi company, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved AUBAGIO^® as a new once-daily, oral treatment indicated for patients with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS). AUBAGIO has shown significant efficacy across key measures of MS disease activity, including reducing relapses, slowing the progression of physical disability, and reducing the number of brain lesions as detected by MRI. [Genzyme Corporation, a Sanofi Company] Press Release

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