Article
Cell Biology
Natasha Saviuk, Yumaine Chong, Peng Wang, Sara Bermudez, Zhe Zhao, Arjun A. Bhaskaran, Derek Bowie, Nahum Sonenberg, Ellis Cooper, A. Pejmun Haghighi
Summary: Genetic perturbances in translational regulation affect cerebellar motor learning and synaptic plasticity, but the role of translational mechanisms in cerebellar plasticity is not well understood. This study shows that the genetic removal of 4E-BP, a translational suppressor, leads to a significant change in cerebellar synaptic plasticity, converting long-term depression (LTD) to long-term potentiation. The results suggest that translational regulation through 4E-BP is critical for establishing the appropriate kinase/phosphatase balance required for normal synaptic plasticity in the cerebellum.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Carolina A. Oliva, Daniela S. Rivera, Angie K. Torres, Carolina B. Lindsay, Cheril Tapia-Rojas, Francisco Bozinovic, Nibaldo C. Inestrosa
Summary: In Octodon degus, females experience more severe aging than males. Andrographolide treatment improves complex behaviors related to age-detrimental effects in females.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Madeleine Kyrke-Smith, Lenora J. Volk, Samuel F. Cooke, Mark F. Bear, Richard L. Huganir, Jason D. Shepherd
Summary: Research shows that mice lacking the Arc gene do not exhibit deficits in hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP), indicating that Arc is not necessary for LTP in the hippocampus.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Lorenzo More, Lucia Privitera, Philippa Perrett, Daniel D. Cooper, Manuel Van Gijsel Bonnello, J. Simon C. Arthur, Bruno G. Frenguelli
Summary: The transcription factor CREB plays a crucial role in regulating physiological functions in the central nervous system. Recent research has focused on the phosphorylation of the S133 residue in CREB, which is required for its transcriptional activation. Previous studies using molecular genetic techniques have resulted in conflicting results, possibly due to the manipulation of endogenous CREB. In this study, the researchers generated a postnatal and forebrain-specific mutant of CREB S133A to avoid potential complications. The findings show that CREB S133 is necessary for spatial cognitive flexibility, basal synaptic transmission, and long-term potentiation in the hippocampus, highlighting its importance in neuronal function, synaptic plasticity, and cognition.
Article
Plant Sciences
Yalin Wang, Wenyan Zhu, Fei Ren, Na Zhao, Shixiao Xu, Ping Sun
Summary: The study revealed that grazing intensity has significant effects on key pathways and related genes in Taraxacum mongolicum, including plant hormone and signal transduction pathways, carbohydrate and secondary metabolism, and photosynthesis. Heavy grazing resulted in a stronger transcriptomic response compared with light grazing by increasing the expression of secondary metabolism- and photosynthesis-related genes. These findings shed light on the molecular mechanisms of plant response to grazing.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Frank Raven, Iris W. Riemersma, Martha F. Olthuis, Ieva Rybakovaite, Elroy L. Meijer, Peter Meerlo, Eddy A. van der Zee, Robbert Havekes
Summary: Many organisms in the animal kingdom have the ability to form and retrieve memories. Synaptic plasticity is crucial for memory storage. Overactivating cofilin improves short-term memory formation.
FRONTIERS IN BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Review
Cell Biology
Dalila Mango, Ada Ledonne
Summary: Group I metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRI) modulate essential brain functions and are involved in various neurological and psychiatric illnesses. The mGluRI-dependent long-term depression (LTD) of glutamatergic synaptic transmission is a key mechanism in shaping connectivity and directing brain functions and behaviors. This article provides an updated overview of the physiopathology of mGluRI-LTD, including induction and regulation mechanisms, and its implications in both physiological and pathological conditions.
Article
Psychology, Mathematical
Roy Shoval, Nurit Gronau, Tal Makovski
Summary: Previous research has shown that meaningful images have a greater capacity for visual long-term memory (VLTM), but the capacity and limits of a pure VLTM that is independent of conceptual information still need to be determined. The results of three experiments demonstrated that there is no massive VLTM for meaningless stimuli, and memory for visual properties per-se is overall poor, particularly for meaningless items.
PSYCHONOMIC BULLETIN & REVIEW
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Andrew C. Toader, Josue M. Regalado, Yan Ran Li, Andrea Terceros, Nakul Yadav, Suraj Kumar, Sloane Satow, Florian Hollunder, Alessandra Bonito-Oliva, Priya Rajasethupathy
Summary: Memories formed initially in the hippocampus are gradually stabilized to the cortex for long-term storage. The mechanisms of this brain re-organization are poorly understood. By recording neural activity in the circuits connecting the hippocampus and cortex in mice performing a memory-guided virtual reality task over weeks, researchers identified a strong correlation between memory and activity in the anterior thalamus, with inhibition of this activity disrupting memory consolidation. Additionally, gain amplification enhanced consolidation of memories that were otherwise not consolidated. The researchers also found that the anteromedial thalamus preferentially encodes salient memories and gradually increases correlations with the cortex to facilitate tuning and synchronization of cortical ensembles, suggesting a mechanism for the selection and stabilization of hippocampal memories into longer-term cortical storage.
Article
Computer Science, Information Systems
Young Pyo Jeon, Yongbin Bang, Hak Ji Lee, Eun Jung Lee, Young Joon Yoo, Sang Yoon Park
Summary: Researchers have explored memristive devices based on resistance switching to simulate the learning and memory algorithm of the human brain, finding their multi-level information storage and neuromorphic behaviors attractive. The study also conducted a detailed analysis of an Li:ITO substrate and theoretically studied the switching mechanism of memristive devices.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tian-Yeh M. Lim, Blake E. Wilde, Mallory E. Thomas, Kristin Murphy, Jeffery E. Vahrenkamp, Megan Conway, Katherine Varley, Jason Gertz, Donald Ayer
Summary: The c-Myc protooncogene drives glucose uptake and suppresses thioredoxin interacting protein (TXNIP) expression to meet the demand of glucose-dependent biosynthetic pathways. A Myc(high)/TXNIPlow gene signature is clinically significant in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and TXNIP loss mimics Myc overexpression. TXNIP loss expands the Myc-dependent transcriptome and increases Myc genomic binding without affecting Myc's intrinsic capacity and levels. These findings connect Myc genomic binding and transcriptional programs to nutrient and progrowth signals that control TXNIP expression.
Article
Biology
Xin-Tai Wang, Lin Zhou, Bin-Bin Dong, Fang-Xiao Xu, De-Juan Wang, En-Wei Shen, Xin-Yu Cai, Yin Wang, Na Wang, Sheng-Jian Ji, Wei Chen, Martijn Schonewille, J. Julius Zhu, Chris De Zeeuw, Ying Shen
Summary: The EPAC-PKCe module plays a critical role in a previously unidentified form of presynaptic long-term potentiation in the cerebellum and motor behavior in mice. Blocking EPAC-PKCe signaling specific to granule cells abolishes presynaptic long-term potentiation at parallel fiber to Purkinje cell synapses and impairs basic performance and learning of cerebellar motor behavior.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Youngjun Park, Min-Kyu Kim, Jang-Sik Lee
Summary: Efficient neuromorphic devices require artificial synapses capable of linear and symmetric synaptic weight updates. To prevent ion dissipation, synaptic transistors are designed to operate by ion injection into the channel layer, with a threshold switch used as an access device. These design features enable stable and long-term synaptic weight modulation, improving data retention and recognition accuracy in artificial neural networks.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY C
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Megane Missaire, Nicolas Fraize, Jean-Christophe Comte, Bruno Truchet, Regis Parmentier, Paul-Antoine Salin, Gael Malleret
Summary: Long-term storage of information in memory relies on long-term synaptic plasticity processes. Studies have shown synaptic changes after training in long-term/reference memory and working memory tasks. Consolidation of long-term information leads to delayed synaptic potentiation, while optimal information processing into working memory triggers synaptic depression.
Article
Neurosciences
F. Locatelli, T. Soda, I Montagna, S. Tritto, L. Botta, F. Prestori, E. D'Angelo
Summary: Research has found that excitatory synapses on Golgi cells in the cerebellum exhibit a unique voltage dependence in long-term plasticity, with activation of T-type and L-type Ca2+ channels playing important roles in inducing LTP and LTD. Additionally, there is an inverted relationship between plasticity at mossy fiber-Golgi cell synapses and mossy fiber-granule cell synapses in terms of voltage dependence.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alexandre Bacq, Simone Astori, Elias Gebara, Wei Tang, Bianca A. Silva, Jose Sanchez-Mut, Jocelyn Grosse, Isabelle Guillot de Suduiraut, Olivia Zanoletti, Catherine Maclachlan, Graham W. Knott, Johannes Graeff, Carmen Sandi
MOLECULAR PSYCHIATRY
(2020)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Wenhao Xia, Emilija Veljkovic, Kyoko Koshibu, Manuel C. Peitsch, Julia Hoeng
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY
(2019)
Article
Oncology
Jose Vicente Sanchez-Mut, Liliane Glauser, David Monk, Johannes Graff
CLINICAL EPIGENETICS
(2020)
Article
Plant Sciences
Wenhao Xia, Aditya Reddy Kolli, Kyoko Koshibu, Florian Martin, Athanasios Kondylis, Arkadiusz Kuczaj, Wei Teck Tan, Ying Shan Yeo, Glenda Tan, Charles Teng, Kaing Woon, Thomas Schneider, Marja Talikka, Blaine W. Phillips, Patrick Vanscheeuwijck, Manuel C. Peitsch, Julia Hoeng
Summary: The study found that anatabine has anti-inflammatory effects in rodents and can achieve biological effects through different routes of administration; anatabine has a significant therapeutic effect in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis.
JOURNAL OF NATURAL PRODUCTS
(2021)
Review
Genetics & Heredity
Ali Jawaid, Katherina-Lynn Jehle, Isabelle M. Mansuy
Summary: Studies in humans exposed to famine, stress/trauma, or toxicants have shown that parental exposure can impact the health of descendants, sometimes across multiple generations. Some studies have also found epigenetic changes in the periphery and sperm after certain exposures.
TRENDS IN GENETICS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Patrick M. Callahan, Alvin V. Terry, Manuel C. Peitsch, Julia Hoeng, Kyoko Koshibu
Summary: Nicotine and similar alkaloids can modulate memory function, with different alkaloids affecting spatial memory and object memory differently. Nicotine has a more robust and general role in memory regulation, while cotinine and anatabine uniquely regulate short-term spatial memory.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Oihane Jaka, Inaki Iturria, Marco van der Toorn, Jorge Hurtado de Mendoza, Diogo A. R. S. Latino, Ainhoa Alzualde, Manuel C. Peitsch, Julia Hoeng, Kyoko Koshibu
Summary: In this study, the effects of natural MAO inhibitors on anxiety behavior induced by novel environment in zebrafish were investigated. Harmane, norharmane, and TIQ were found to have anxiolytic-like effects, while TMN showed a mix of anxiolytic- and anxiogenic-like effects. The brain bioavailability of these compounds was high, suggesting that the observed effects on anxiety-like behavior in zebrafish were likely due to their direct effects in the brain.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Ainhoa Alzualde, Oihane Jaka, Diogo A. R. S. Latino, Omar Alijevic, Inaki Iturria, Jorge Hurtado de Mendoza, Pavel Pospisil, Stefan Frentzel, Manuel C. Peitsch, Julia Hoeng, Kyoko Koshibu
Summary: The study found nicotine to be the most effective anxiolytic alkaloid tested, with other natural alkaloids also potentially regulating anxiety.
JOURNAL OF NATURAL MEDICINES
(2021)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Andrew B. Hawkey, Julia Hoeng, Manuel C. Peitsch, Edward D. Levin, Kyoko Koshibu
Summary: Zebrafish serve as a valuable model for neurobehavioral research and drug screening, with the novel tank diving test being a common method to assess anxiety-like behavior. Nicotine has been found to induce anxiolytic effects in zebrafish, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic agent for anxiety disorders.
PHARMACOLOGY BIOCHEMISTRY AND BEHAVIOR
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Omar Alijevic, Oihane Jaka, Ainhoa Alzualde, Diana Maradze, Wenhao Xia, Stefan Frentzel, Andrew N. Gifford, Manuel C. Peitsch, Julia Hoeng, Kyoko Koshibu
Summary: This study examined the neuropharmacological effects of natural alkaloids, including nicotine, cotinine, and anatabine. Nicotine showed anxiolytic-like behavioral effects in mice and zebrafish, while cotinine and anatabine had no detectable effects. Nicotine stimulated the release of norepinephrine and dopamine, while cotinine and anatabine mainly stimulated dopamine release. These findings suggest that natural nicotine alkaloids can induce an anxiolytic-like behavior in nonclinical animal models, which may depend on the activation of various nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and regulation of neurotransmitter systems.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Manuel Oliveira, Kyoko Koshibu, Andreas Rytz, Francesca Giuffrida, Sebastien Sultan, Amaury Patin, Mathieu Gaudin, Aurore Tomezyk, Pascal Steiner, Nora Schneider
Summary: The composition of lipids in the brain plays a crucial role in its development, and dietary lipids are essential for brain lipidome. In this study, it was found that polar lipids in the diet contribute to brain development and change over time. Furthermore, the levels of certain lipids in different brain structures remain constant across age groups, reflecting the general brain growth.
FRONTIERS IN NUTRITION
(2022)
Review
Andrology
Kristina M. M. Thumfart, Isabelle M. M. Mansuy
Summary: Sertoli cells are somatic cells in the testes that play crucial roles in the development and maturation of spermatozoa. They provide trophic factors and nutrients to germ cells, regulate the immune system in testis, and create an immunologically privileged environment for developing germ cells. Environmental factors such as diet and pollutants can negatively impact the function of Sertoli cells and fertility.
Review
Psychiatry
Rodrigo G. G. Arzate-Mejia, Isabelle M. M. Mansuy
Summary: Chromatin is the physical substrate of the genome, carrying DNA sequence and regulating cellular functions. Recent findings suggest that chromatin plays a crucial role in cellular memory, particularly in the brain. This has important implications for experience-dependent transcriptional regulation in health and disease.
TRANSLATIONAL PSYCHIATRY
(2023)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Rodrigo G. Arzate-Mejia, Isabelle M. Mansuy
Summary: This article summarizes the research presented at the symposium on epigenetic inheritance and discusses the important questions, perspectives, and challenges for the field in the future.
ENVIRONMENTAL EPIGENETICS
(2022)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Chiara Boscardin, Francesca Manuella, Isabelle M. Mansuy
Summary: Life experiences and environmental conditions in childhood can have long-lasting effects on physiology and behavior, potentially being transmitted to future generations. A study on mice models showed that postnatal stress can alter behavior and metabolism for several generations, indicating possible epigenetic mechanisms of transmission.
ENVIRONMENTAL EPIGENETICS
(2022)