Neural Cell News Volume 9.41 | Oct 28 2015

Generation of Functional Human Serotonergic Neurons from Fibroblasts
Scientists identified and overexpressed key transcription factors to successfully generate human serotonergic neurons. They found that overexpressing the transcription factors NKX2.2, FEV, GATA2 and LMX1B in combination with ASCL1 and NGN2 directly and efficiently generated serotonergic neurons from human fibroblasts. [Mol Psychiatry] Abstract

Serotonin Promotes Development and Regeneration of Spinal Motor Neurons in Zebrafish
Investigators showed that, during development, diffuse serotonin promotes spinal motor neuron generation from pMN progenitor cells, leaving interneuron numbers unchanged. [Cell Rep]
Full Article | Graphical Abstract | Press Release

Positioning of AMPA Receptor-Containing Endosomes Regulates Synapse Architecture
The authors used live-cell imaging in hippocampal neuron cultures to show that intracellular AMPA receptors are transported in Rab11-positive recycling endosomes, which frequently enter dendritic spines and depend on the microtubule and actin cytoskeleton. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

NEDD4-Mediated HSF1 Degradation Underlies α-Synucleinopathy
Researchers discovered aberrant heat shock transcription factor 1 (HSF1) degradation by aggregated α-synuclein (or α-synuclein-induced proteotoxic stress) in transfected neuroblastoma cells. HSF1 dysregulation via α-synuclein was confirmed by in vivo assessment of mouse and in situ studies of human specimens with α-synucleinopathy. [Hum Mol Genet] Abstract | Full Article

Astroglial β-Arrestin1-Mediated Nuclear Signaling Regulates the Expansion of Neural Precursor Cells in Adult Hippocampus
Scientists showed that β-arrestin 1 (β-arr1) in dentate gyrus (DG) regulates neural precursor proliferation. β-arr1 knockout mice showed reduced neural precursor proliferation in subgranular zone which could be rescued by selective viral expression of β-arr1 but not its nuclear-function-deficient mutants under control of hGFAP promotor in DG. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Poly-L-Ornithine Promotes Preferred Differentiation of Neural Stem/Progenitor Cells via ERK Signaling Pathway
Three biomaterial substrates poly-L-ornithine, poly-L-lysine and fibronectin were investigated for their effects on proliferation and differentiation of rat neural stem/progenitor cells, and the underlying mechanisms were also explored. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Enhancer Analysis Unveils Genetic Interactions between TLX and SOX2 in Neural Stem Cells and In Vivo Reprogramming
Investigators showed that a highly conserved cis-element within the Tlx locus functions to drive gene expression in neural stem cells. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article

Protein Palmitoylation Regulates Neural Stem Cell Differentiation by Modulation of EID1 Activity
Researchers showed that 2-bromopalmitate impaired the differentiation of neural stem cells (NSCs) into both neurons and glia and impaired NSC cell cycle exit. [Mol Neurobiol] Abstract

Discovery of a Small Molecule that Enhances Astrocytogenesis by Activation of STAT3, SMAD1/5/8 and ERK1/2 via Induction of Cytokines in Neural Stem Cells
Researchers developed and screened small molecules that can modulate the fate of neural stem cells that are derived from rat fetal cortex. [ACS Chem Neurosci] Abstract

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Newron Pharmaceuticals Announces Planned Pivotal Trial Design for Sarizotan for Patients with Rett Syndrome, a Rare Neurodevelopmental Disease
Newron announced the study design and details of its planned pivotal trial for sarizotan for the treatment of patients with Rett syndrome, a rare neurodevelopmental disease. [Newron Pharmaceuticals S.p.A.] Download Press Release

Regulus Achieves All Research Milestones in Collaboration with Biogen to Identify microRNA Biomarkers for Multiple Sclerosis
Regulus Therapeutics Inc. announced that it has earned a fourth milestone payment in its collaboration with Biogen related to progress in the companies’ research collaboration to identify microRNAs as biomarkers for multiple sclerosis. [Regulus Therapeutics Inc.] Press Release

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