Neural Cell News Volume 9.01 | Jan 14 2015

Cell Lineage Analysis in Human Brain Using Endogenous Retroelements
Researchers used high-coverage whole-genome sequencing of single neurons from a normal individual to identify spontaneous somatic mutations as clonal marks to track cell lineages in human brain. [Neuron] Abstract | Press Release

Human iPSC-Derived Motoneurons Harboring ​TARDBP or ​C9ORF72 ALS Mutations Are Dysfunctional Despite Maintaining Viability
Scientists report the use of human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived motoneurons to study the pathophysiology of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). [Nat Commun] Full Article | Press Release

Single Cell-Derived Clonal Analysis of Human Glioblastoma Links Functional and Genomic Heterogeneity
Researchers devised a method to isolate and functionally profile tumorigenic clones from patient glioblastoma samples. Individual clones demonstrated unique proliferation and differentiation abilities. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract | Full Article

Autophagy Supports Survival and Phototransduction Protein Levels in Rod Photoreceptors
Scientists examined the importance of autophagy in photoreceptors by deleting the essential autophagy gene Atg5 specifically in rods. Loss of autophagy led to progressive degeneration of rod photoreceptors beginning at eight weeks of age such that by 44 weeks few rods remained. [Cell Death Differ] Abstract

Epigenetic Regulation Contributes to Urocortin-Enhanced Midbrain Dopaminergic Neuron Differentiation
Scientists show that urocortin is endogenously expressed in the developing ventral midbrain and its receptors are exhibited in Nurr1⁺ postmitotic midbrain dopaminergic precursors and TH⁺ neurons, suggesting possible roles in regulating their terminal differentiation. [Stem Cells] Abstract

Inhibition of miR-15a Promotes BDNF Expression and Rescues Dendritic Maturation Deficits in MeCP2-Deficient Neurons
Researchers show that MeCP2 regulates the expression of a microRNA, miR-15a. They found that miR-15a plays a significant role in the regulation of neuronal maturation. [Stem Cells] Abstract

Functional Role of RNA Polymerase II and P70 S6 Kinase in KCl Withdrawal-Induced Cerebellar Granule Neuron Apoptosis
Scientists examined if inhibition of RNA Pol II protects neurons from apoptosis. Treatment of neurons with 5, 6-dichloro-1-beta-D-ribobenzimidazole, a RNA Pol II-dependent transcription elongation inhibitor, and flavopiridol inhibited phosphorylation and activation of Pol II and protected neurons from undergoing apoptosis. [J Biol Chem] Abstract | Full Article

Src Tyrosine Kinases Regulate Neuronal Differentiation of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells Via Modulation of Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel Activity
Researchers test the hypothesis that Src family kinases influence neuronal differentiation via a chronic regulation of Na⁺ channel functionality. [Neurochem Res] Abstract

Retinoic Acid Signaling and Neuronal Differentiation
The identification of neurological symptoms caused by vitamin A deficiency pointed to a critical, early developmental role of vitamin A and its metabolite, retinoic acid (RA). The ability of RA to induce post-mitotic, neural phenotypes in various stem cells, in vitro, served as early evidence that RA is involved in the switch between proliferation and differentiation. [Cell Mol Life Sci] Abstract

Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the neural cell research field.

AbbVie Announces U.S. FDA Approval of DUOPA™ (Carbidopa and Levodopa) Enteral Suspension for the Treatment of Motor Fluctuations in Patients with Advanced Parkinson’s Disease
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved AbbVie’s DUOPA™ enteral suspension for the treatment of motor fluctuations for people with advanced Parkinson’s disease. [AbbVie Inc.] Press Release

From our sponsor: Pluripotent cell isolation for regenerative medicine. Request a free wallchart from Nature.

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)

Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the neural cell community.

NEW Postdoctoral Fellowship – CNS Inflammation (Rutgers University)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Post-Transcriptional Gene Regulation Governing Cancer Cell Behavior (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Epigenetic Mechanisms and Behavioral Outcomes of Developmental Neurotoxicity (Thomas Jefferson University)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Wnt Signaling in Development and Disease (Van Andel Research Institute)

Faculty Position – Neuroscience/Membrane Proteins (National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences)

Tenure-Track Position – Cellular/Molecular Neuroscience (Carnegie Mellon University)

Postdoctoral Position – Morphogenetic Signaling Pathways in Development and Disease (University of Rochester Medical Center)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Neural Development (National Institutes of Health)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Chromatin and Epigenetic Regulation (Van Andel Research Institute)

Research Technologist – Media Development (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Scientist – Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Neural Differentiation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Scientist – Pluripotent Stem Cell Media Development, High Throughput Screening (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Scientist – Cell Culture Support Products (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Scientist – Immunology/Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Associate – Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Recruit Top Talent: Reach more than 50,000 potential candidates by posting your organization’s career opportunities on the Connexon Creative Job Board at no cost.