Article
Cell Biology
Thibaud Parpaite, Lucie Brosse, Nina Sejourne, Amandine Laur, Yasmine Mechioukhi, Patrick Delmas, Bertrand Coste
Summary: This study combines recordings of mechanosensitive currents in mechanosensory neurons with single-cell RNA sequencing to explore the role of transcriptional profiles on mechanotransduction mechanisms. The research revealed that Piezo2 is enriched in rapidly adapting neurons expressing MS currents, while Tmem120a and Tmem150c are uniformly expressed in all mechanosensory neuron subtypes.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Christoph A. Haselwandtera, Yusong R. Guoc, Ziao Fuc, Roderick MacKinnon
Summary: The study demonstrates that the free membrane shape of lipid bilayer vesicles containing the mechanosensitive ion channel Piezo can be predicted using membrane elasticity theory and measurements of protein geometry and vesicle size. By analyzing the force-exertion relationship between the Piezo dome and free membrane, important properties of Piezo related to mechanical gating sensitivity are identified.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Vanni Caruso, Mariachiara Zuccarini, Patrizia Di Iorio, Ishaq Muhammad, Maurizio Ronci
Summary: This review discusses the molecular mechanisms leading to changes in feeding behavior within hypothalamic neurons following purinergic receptor activation, emphasizes the importance of purinergic signaling in metabolic homeostasis, and explores the possibility of targeting its receptors for therapeutic purposes.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Charlotte Van den Eynde, Joris Vriens, Katrien De Clercq
Summary: Calcium ions play a critical role in cell function, with transient receptor potential (TRP) channels serving as a type of ion channel that can convey various stimuli and potentially participate in cellular responses to changing environments.
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sonali A. Deshpande, Ethan W. Rohrbach, James D. Asuncion, Jenna Harrigan, Aditya Eamani, Ellery H. Schlingmann, Daniel J. Suto, Pei-Tseng Lee, Felix E. Schweizer, Hugo J. Bellen, David E. Krantz
Summary: Octopamine plays an essential role in egg-laying in Drosophila melanogaster. This study identifies two octopamine receptors, Oct beta 2 and OAMB, that regulate oviduct contraction and relaxation, respectively. The interaction with glutamatergic pathways modifies the effects of octopamine, suggesting a possible mechanism for lateral oviduct contractions. The aminergic pathways in the oviposition circuit may be comparable to those that regulate visceral muscle contractility in mammals.
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Axelle Khouma, Moein Minbashi Moeini, Julie Plamondon, Denis Richard, Alexandre Caron, Natalie Jane Michael
Summary: Histamine, a neuromodulator in the brain, contributes to the regulation of various physiological processes, including energy balance, through histaminergic signaling in the hypothalamus. Two histamine receptors, H1R and H3R, play important roles in key hypothalamic nuclei involved in energy homeostasis. Activation of H1R suppresses food intake, while activation of H3R stimulates appetite. The central histaminergic system is implicated in weight gain induced by atypical antipsychotics and has potential as a therapeutic target for obesity treatment.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Ying Jiang, Yimin Huang, Xuyi Luo, Jiayingzi Wu, Haonan Zong, Linli Shi, Ran Cheng, Yifan Zhu, Shan Jiang, Lu Lan, Xiaoting Jia, Jianguo Mei, Heng-Ye Man, Ji-Xin Cheng, Chen Yang
Summary: Neuromodulation using semiconducting polymer nanoparticles based photoacoustic nano transducers (PANs) is a promising approach for precise control of neuronal activities. PANs can generate localized acoustic waves by absorbing nanosecond pulsed laser in the near-infrared second window (NIR-II), showing potential for non-invasive brain modulation.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Koji Eguchi, Yuichiro Izumi, Yukiko Yasuoka, Terumasa Nakagawa, Makoto Ono, Kosuke Maruyama, Naomi Matsuo, Akiko Hiramatsu, Hideki Inoue, Yushi Nakayama, Hiroshi Nonoguchi, Hyun-Wook Lee, I. David Weiner, Yutaka Kakizoe, Takashige Kuwabara, Masashi Mukoyama
Summary: This study demonstrates that aldosterone regulates the membrane expression of Rhcg through the mineralocorticoid receptor and PKC pathways, which is modulated by extracellular potassium level.
JOURNAL OF ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Cell Biology
Kartik Venkatachalam
Summary: This article explores the roles of ion channels and transporters in the regulation of aging and longevity, and suggests leveraging these proteins to develop novel therapeutic strategies against aging.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kirin D. Gada, Mengmeng Chang, Aishwarya Chandrashekar, Leigh D. Plant, Sami F. Noujaim, Diomedes E. Logothetis
Summary: G-protein-gated inwardly rectifying potassium (GIRK) channel activity is regulated by phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PI 4,5P(2)), and PKC epsilon plays a role in the activation of GIRK channels in cardiac atrial cells and human stem cell-derived atrial cardiomyocytes. PKC epsilon enhances the interaction between GIRK4 and GIRK1/4 with PIP2, leading to increased channel activity.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
T. Crespo-Garcia, A. Camara-Checa, M. Dago, M. Rubio-Alarcon, J. Rapun, J. Tamargo, E. Delpon, R. Caballero
Summary: Cardiac electrical activity is regulated by ion channels, and transcription factors play a critical role in controlling this activity. They may serve as potential drug targets for treating cardiac arrhythmias.
BIOCHEMICAL PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Juan Facundo Chrestia, Ornella Turani, Noelia Rodriguez Araujo, Guillermina Hernando, Maria del Carmen Esandi, Cecilia Bouzat
Summary: Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are widely distributed in the central and peripheral nervous system and play crucial roles in vital physiological processes. Post-translational modifications (PTMs) have been shown to regulate different aspects of nAChR life cycle, but our knowledge in this field is still limited and many important aspects remain unknown.
PHARMACOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Grant P. Higerd-Rusli, Matthew Alsaloum, Sidharth Tyagi, Nivedita Sarveswaran, Mark Estacion, Elizabeth J. Akin, Fadia B. Dib-Hajj, Shujun Liu, Daniel Sosniak, Peng Zhao, Sulayman D. Dib-Hajj, Stephen G. Waxman
Summary: Neuronal excitability relies on the coordinated action of functionally distinct channels, specifically voltage-gated sodium (Na-v) and potassium (K-v) channels. Mutations and dysfunction of these channels contribute to disorders of excitability, such as pain and epilepsy. Understanding the trafficking of these channels and other axonal proteins can offer potential therapeutic strategies for these diseases. This study demonstrates that various Na-v and K-v channel isoforms and other axonal membrane proteins are co-transported in specific vesicles, providing new insights into the development and organization of sensory neuron membranes.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Neurosciences
Eva Kaulich, Laura J. Grundy, William R. Schafer, Denise S. Walker
Summary: The DEG/ENaC family of ion channels is a diverse group of non-voltage-gated cation channels that have wide-ranging effects on cellular function. Electrophysiological methods and genetic studies play important roles in understanding the physiological properties and cellular functions of this family.
JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-LONDON
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Ayelen Melisa Blanco, Jose Luis Soengas
Summary: Leptin, encoded by the obese gene, functions differently in fish compared to mammals. In mammals, it is mainly produced by adipose tissue in response to fat depots, while in fish, various tissues, especially the liver, are the main sources of leptin, with unclear determining factors of production.
MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2021)