Article
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Hongbao Fang, Chengjun Wang, Yuncong Chen, Zhongyan Chen, Shankun Yao, Shiping Yang, Lei Dong, Zijian Guo, Weijiang He
Summary: A new ratiometric reversible PA sensor HD-Zn was designed for accurate tracking of labile Zn2+ fluctuation in vivo, showing promising results for ratiometric PA imaging of Zn2+ in living mice. The sensor utilizes a hybrid chromophore and Zn2+ chelator design strategy to achieve reliable detection of Zn2+ in a ratiometric manner.
INORGANIC CHEMISTRY FRONTIERS
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Siarhei A. Dabravolski, Nikolay K. Sadykhov, Andrey G. Kartuesov, Evgeny E. Borisov, Vasily N. Sukhorukov, Alexander N. Orekhov
Summary: Zinc plays a crucial role in cardiomyocytes, and dysregulation of cellular zinc homeostasis can lead to mitochondrial and ER stresses, resulting in cardiovascular diseases and accelerated cardiac ageing.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Susann Ludewig, Ulrike Herrmann, Kristin Michaelsen-Preusse, Kristin Metzdorf, Jennifer Just, Charlotte Bold, Ulrike C. Mueller, Martin Korte
Summary: The study reveals the essential role of the APP family, particularly the ectodomain APPs alpha, in neuronal Ca2+ handling. Additionally, the loss of APP and APLP2 is shown to impair Ca2+ handling, endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ store refill, and synaptic plasticity.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Hung-Chun Tsao, Yi-Feng Liao, Feby Wijaya Pratiwi, Chung-Yuan Mou, Yi-Jhen Lin, Chien-Yuan Pan, Yit-Tsong Chen
Summary: Lysosomes play a crucial role in various signaling pathways and ion storage, with their morphology being affected by Zn2+. Using a modified epifluorescence microscopy, the study revealed that a Zn2+ chelator can shrink Zn2+-enriched vesicles and lysosomes, which can be inhibited by a lysosome fission blocker. This demonstrates the utility of the modified microscopy in studying intracellular organelle homeostasis and related disorders.
MICROSCOPY AND MICROANALYSIS
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Pragya Goel, Dion Dickman
Summary: Homeostatic signaling systems play a crucial role in maintaining stable functionality in changing environments by regulating the balance of excitation and inhibition at synapses. Research on the Drosophila neuromuscular junction has identified five homeostats that work independently yet simultaneously to balance neurotransmission. These ancient signaling systems are believed to have emerged early in evolution and play a fundamental role in stabilizing mammalian cholinergic NMJs and glutamatergic central synapses.
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR LIFE SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Shuhei Aoyama, Yuya Nishida, Hirotsugu Uzawa, Miwa Himuro, Akiko Kanai, Kyosei Ueki, Minami Ito, Hitoshi Iida, Isei Tanida, Takeshi Miyatsuka, Yoshio Fujitani, Masaki Matsumoto, Hirotaka Watada
Summary: Autophagy plays a crucial role in maintaining cellular homeostasis in pancreatic beta cells, but the autophagic flux induced in different physiological conditions in pancreatic islets is unclear. In this study, we developed transgenic mice expressing pHluorin-LC3-mCherry reporter to monitor systemic autophagic flux. Our findings demonstrate that autophagic flux in pancreatic islets is enhanced after starvation, and suppression of the flux after short-term refeeding requires more prolonged re-starvation in islets compared to other insulin-targeted organs. Moreover, insulin resistance leads to heterogeneity in autophagic flux in pancreatic beta cells, with high-autophagic flux cells exhibiting increased intracellular calcium influx by glucose stimulation and differential gene expression, including lipoprotein lipase. Our pHluorin-LC3-mCherry mice provide insights into the heterogeneity of autophagic flux in pancreatic beta cells.
CELL CHEMICAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Yang Wang, Jingran Lin, Jiarui Li, Lu Yan, Wenwen Li, Xingzhi He, Huan Ma
Summary: Activity-dependent changes in protein expression are crucial for neuronal plasticity. Homeostatic synaptic up-scaling, induced primarily by neuronal inactivity, involves autophagy and the regulation of key synaptic proteins. The turnover mechanism of synaptic proteins in this process remains unclear.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Pawel Krupa, Giovanni La Penna, Mai Suan Li
Summary: Charge polarization at the membrane interface is an important process in biology. This study investigates the effects of divalent cations and their association with lipid molecules, as well as the role of amyloid-beta 1-42 (A beta 42) peptides in ion homeostasis and lipid membrane protection. The results provide insights into the possible mechanisms of synaptic plasticity and the storage of divalent cations away from lipids by A beta 42 oligomers.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Review
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Qianting Deng, Chongyun Wu, Emily Parker, Timon Cheng-Yi Liu, Rui Duan, Luodan Yang
Summary: This article reviews the roles of microglia and astrocytes in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and emphasizes their importance in the pathogenesis and progression of AD. Research has found that these two types of glial cells play critical roles in neuroinflammation, synapse loss and pruning, clearance, and other processes related to AD. Therefore, therapeutic approaches targeting microglia and astrocytes may be promising for the treatment and prevention of AD.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yuya Sakimoto, Paw Min-Thein Oo, Makoto Goshima, Itsuki Kanehisa, Yutaro Tsukada, Dai Mitsushima
Summary: The hippocampus plays a key role in contextual memory, with long-term strengthening of glutamatergic transmission and enhancement of GABA(A) receptor-mediated inhibitory synapses after learning. Rapid plasticity at inhibitory synapses following contextual learning may facilitate encoding of memories and prevent cognitive dysfunction in hippocampal pathologies such as Alzheimer's disease, autism spectrum disorders, and epilepsy.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Peng Zhang, Juan Yan, Jiao Wei, Yane Li, Chuancai Sun
Summary: The study indicates that social isolation disrupts synaptic homeostasis and occludes associative LTP-like plasticity in the human cortex, decreasing behavior performance related to declarative memory.
JOURNAL OF AFFECTIVE DISORDERS
(2024)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Hongbao Fang, Shanshan Geng, Mingang Hao, Qixin Chen, Minglun Liu, Chunyan Liu, Zhiqi Tian, Chengjun Wang, Takanori Takebe, Jun-Lin Guan, Yuncong Chen, Zijian Guo, Weijiang He, Jiajie Diao
Summary: The study introduced a new method (Zn-STIMO) for tracking zinc ions in multiple organelles using structured illumination microscopy and a single zinc ion fluorescent probe. By developing a new zinc ion fluorescent probe and combining it with SIM imaging technology, the study successfully achieved morphology-correlated organelle identification in living cells.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Dinko Smilovic, Michael Rietsche, Meike Fellenz, Alexander Drakew, Mario Vuksic, Thomas Deller
Summary: In this study, the researchers investigated the effects of different TNF receptor pathways on granule cell spine morphology and found that the absence of TNF is associated with changes in spine head size. Furthermore, the study suggests that the reduced excitability of networks may contribute to these alterations.
JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE NEUROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Emily C. Vogler, Matthew Mahavongtrakul, Kristianna Sarkan, Ryan C. Bohannan, Silvina Catuara-Solarz, Jorge Busciglio
Summary: This study investigates the role of synaptic zinc ion (Zn2+) modulation in neuronal dysfunction and neurodegeneration. It is found that dysregulation of synaptic Zn2+ can trigger neurodegenerative processes and alter the expression of neurotrophic proteins, leading to reduced hippocampal synaptic density, degenerating neurons, increased neuronal spiking activity, and cognitive impairment. The study supports the development of therapeutics targeting synaptic zinc homeostasis as potential treatments for Alzheimer's disease (AD).
FRONTIERS IN NEUROLOGY
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Shunfeng Liu, Nan Wang, Yaqian Long, Zhuan Wu, Shouhong Zhou
Summary: Zinc is essential for normal growth and development in the human body. The homeostasis of zinc in the central nervous system is closely linked to the development of neuroinflammation. Disturbances in synaptic zinc homeostasis can lead to neuroinflammation and neurodegenerative diseases. Maintaining proper zinc levels through supplementation can improve immunity and prevent neuroinflammation. This article highlights the importance of maintaining synaptic zinc homeostasis in preventing neuroinflammation.
