Neural Cell News Volume 8.16 | Apr 30 2014

Astrocyte-Encoded Positional Cues Maintain Sensorimotor Circuit Integrity
Researchers showed that postnatal spinal cord astrocytes express several region-specific genes, and that ventral astrocyte-encoded semaphorin 3a is required for proper motor neuron and sensory neuron circuit organization. [Nature] Abstract | Press Release

Structure-Guided Transformation of Channelrhodopsin into a Light-Activated Chloride Channel
Building on high-resolution crystal-structure analysis, pore vestibule modeling, and structure-guided protein engineering, researchers designed and characterized a class of channelrhodopsins (originally cation-conducting) converted into chloride-conducting anion channels. These tools enable fast optical inhibition of action potentials and can be engineered to display step-function kinetics for stable inhibition, outlasting light pulses and for orders-of-magnitude-greater light sensitivity of inhibited cells. [Science] Abstract | Press Release

Neuronal Targets for Reducing Mutant Huntingtin Expression to Ameliorate Disease in a Mouse Model of Huntington’s Disease
Using a conditional transgenic mouse model of Huntington’s disease, in which the mice express full-length human mutant huntingtin (mHTT) from a bacterial artificial chromosome transgene, researchers genetically reduced mHTT expression in neuronal populations in the striatum, cortex or both. [Nat Med]
Abstract | Press Release

Biodegradable Polymeric Nanoparticles Show High Efficacy and Specificity at DNA Delivery to Human Glioblastoma In Vitro and In Vivo
Researchers described a method to treat malignant glioma by nonviral DNA delivery using biodegradable poly(β-amino ester)s, with a focus on the brain tumor initiating cells, the tumor cell population believed to be responsible for the formation of new tumors and resistance to many conventional therapies. [ACS Nano] Abstract | Press Release

Microinjection of Membrane-Impermeable Molecules into Single Neural Stem Cells in Brain Tissue
Scientists demonstrated how to apply microinjection to organotypic brain slices obtained from mice and ferrets; however, their technique is not limited to mouse and ferret embryos, but provides a means of introducing a wide variety of membrane-impermeable molecules (e.g., nucleic acids, proteins, hydrophilic compounds) into neural stem and progenitor cells of any developing mammalian brain. [Nat Protoc] Abstract

Oxidative Stress Increases Neurogenesis and Oligodendrogenesis in Adult Neural Progenitor Cells
Researchers investigated if and how pathophysiological levels of H₂O₂ influenced the differentiation of neural progenitor cells (NPCs). Exposed differentiated NPCs showed significantly increased numbers of neurons and oligodendrocytes compared to unexposed controls. [Stem Cells Dev] Abstract

Alcohol Exposure Inhibits Adult Neural Stem Cell Proliferation
Alcohol exposure can reduce adult proliferation and/or neurogenesis, but its impact on the ultimate neurogenic precursors, neural stem cells (NSCs), has been poorly addressed. Accordingly, the impact of voluntary consumption of alcohol on NSCs in the subventricular zone of the lateral ventricle was examined. [Exp Brain Res] Abstract

Cellular Dynamics Announces Launch of iCell® DopaNeurons, Neural Floor Plate-Derived Midbrain Dopaminergic Neurons
Cellular Dynamics International, Inc. announced the launch of iCell® DopaNeurons, the company’s neural floor plate-derived midbrain dopaminergic neurons generated from human induced pluripotent stem cells. [Cellular Dynamics International, Inc.] Press Release