Article
Cell Biology
Lihong Sheng, Emily J. J. Shields, Janko Gospocic, Masato Sorida, Linyang Ju, China N. N. Byrns, Faith Carranza, Shelley L. L. Berger, Nancy Bonini, Roberto Bonasio
Summary: By studying the changes in the number and gene expression of ensheathing glia in Drosophila melanogaster brain, it is found that dysregulated ensheathing glia can lead to lipid droplet accumulation, cellular dysfunction, and death, affecting brain health and lifespan. Inhibition of apoptosis can restore the declining number of ensheathing glia with age, improve the neuro-motor performance of aged fruit flies and prolong lifespan. Furthermore, an expanded ensheathing glia population can prevent amyloid-beta accumulation in a fly model of Alzheimer's disease and delay the premature death of diseased animals. These findings highlight the vital role of ensheathing glia in regulating brain health and animal longevity.
Article
Neurosciences
Yuryanni A. Rodriguez, Jennifer K. Roebber, Gennady Dvoryanchikov, Vivien Makhoul, Stephen D. Roper, Nirupa Chaudhari
Summary: Research showed that Type I cells in mammalian taste buds primarily respond to ATP, not to other chemicals or taste stimuli. The study suggests that Type I cells may sense chemosensory activation and participate in synaptic signaling, similar to glial cells in the CNS.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Atsushi Ueda, Abigayle Berg, Tashmit Khan, Madeleine Ruzicka, Shuwen Li, Ellyn Cramer, Atulya Iyengar, Chun-Fang Wu
Summary: Drosophila courtship studies have revealed principles of the neurogenetic organization of complex behavior. Intense light not only enhances courtship towards females but also induces unexpected courtship behaviors among male flies. The innate male courtship behavior is restrained by olfactory cues but can be unleashed by strong visual stimulation in Drosophila.
Article
Neurosciences
Megan M. Corty, Jaeda Coutinho-Budd
Summary: The importance of glial cells has gained recognition in the past 20 years, but our knowledge about these cells is still limited compared to neurons. Drosophila glia share similar molecular players and functions with their vertebrate counterparts, making them suitable models to study glial composition and roles. Drosophila genetics and in vivo imaging techniques provide valuable tools to investigate glial development and their interactions with neurons.
CURRENT OPINION IN NEUROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Marija Farrugia, Neville Vassallo, Ruben J. Cauchi
Summary: Evidence suggests that cell types other than motor neurons, such as glial cells, play a role in both Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). This study used a fruit fly model to investigate the specific function of the survival motor neuron (Smn) protein in glial cells. The researchers found that the loss of Smn function in glial cells reduced survival in adult fruit flies but did not affect motor performance or neuromuscular junction morphology. In contrast, the gain of ALS-linked proteins TDP-43, FUS, or C9orf72 in glial cells caused significant defects in motor behavior and reduced survival. These findings highlight the importance of glial cells in SMA disease formation.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yayun Zuo, Yaxin Ren, Yakun Pei, Ahmed A. A. Aioub, Zhaonong Hu
Summary: Periplocoside T (PST) from Periploca sepium exhibits insecticidal activity by inhibiting the activity of vacuolar-type H+-ATPases (V-ATPase). PST treatment leads to a significant decrease in larval mouth hook movement and body wall motion in Drosophila larvae. In addition, PST inhibits the excitability of sensory-central nervous system (CNS)-motor neural circuit in Drosophila larvae by reducing the excitatory junction potential (EJP) frequency.
PESTICIDE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jordan A. Munroe, Mubarak H. Syed, Chris Q. Doe
Summary: This study focuses on the mechanism of exiting quiescence in Drosophila brain neuroblasts, particularly type II neuroblasts. Researchers found that Insulin-like growth factor II mRNA-binding protein (Imp) plays an important role in the exit from quiescence in type II neuroblasts.
Review
Developmental Biology
Jonas Bittern, Nicole Pogodalla, Henrike Ohm, Lena Bruser, Rita Kottmeier, Stefanie Schirmeier, Christian Klaembt
Summary: Animals have the ability to move and react to external stimuli due to the intricate neuronal network and glial cells in the nervous system. Glial cells play important roles in controlling neuronal functions, metabolic support, and cell-cell interactions, which are conserved across different species and can shed light on understanding mammalian glial cells.
DEVELOPMENTAL NEUROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Lauren A. Green, Robert M. Gallant, Jacob P. Brandt, Ev L. Nichols, Cody J. Smith
Summary: A distinct lineage of oligodendrocyte cells was discovered in zebrafish, residing on sensory neurons in the dorsal root ganglia and interacting with peripheral sensory neurons at the dorsal root entry zone. The entry of dorsal root ganglia axons across the DREZ was found to be crucial for the production of these oligodendrocyte cells, which are involved in sensory behavior related to the DRG neurons.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Ekin Su Akdemir, Junsung Woo, Navish A. Bosquez Huerta, Brittney Lozzi, Andrew K. Groves, Akdes Serin Harmanci, Benjamin Deneen
Summary: Astrocytes, the most abundant glial cell in the brain, perform various tasks to support neuronal function and circuit activities. Through the study of astrocytes, a unique subpopulation called Lfng-GFP(+) astrocytes was identified, which occupies a distinct anatomic location in the spinal cord and directly contributes to neuronal function and sensory responses.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Optics
Shuqi Mu, Yingtong Shi, Yintong Song, Wei Liu, Wanxue Wei, Qihuang Gong, Dashan Dong, Kebin Shi
Summary: Analytical modeling of optical field propagation in a scattering medium is important for computational optics. However, there lacks an analytical model to include the full tensor nature of birefringent scattering. In this study, we present an analytical tool with a polarization transfer function tensor to model the field propagation in a birefringent scattering medium. The proposed model provides a more accurate and efficient forward analytical tool for iterative reconstruction of birefringence-related scattering processes.
Article
Neurosciences
Gabriela Salazar, Grace Ross, Ariana E. Maserejian, Jaeda Coutinho-Budd
Summary: This study explores the interaction between astrocytes and cortex glial cells in Drosophila, using an automated analysis pipeline. The results demonstrate a significant correlation between dysfunction in cortex glial cells and aberrant infiltration of astrocytes, as well as variations in their relationship across different regions of the central nervous system.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Neurosciences
S. A. Holmes, A. Kim, D. Borsook
Summary: The human motor system has the capacity to act as an internal form of analgesia through either indirect or direct activation of the motor axis. Current research focuses on evaluating the effects of motor activation on acute and chronic pain, providing a basis for reducing pain symptom loads for patients. Future research directions in this area are also proposed.
NEUROBIOLOGY OF DISEASE
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Ayako Tonoki, Saki Nagai, Zhihua Yu, Tong Yue, Sizhe Lyu, Xue Hou, Kotomi Onuki, Kaho Yabana, Hiroki Takahashi, Motoyuki Itoh
Summary: This study identified the gyc beta gene as a negative regulator of age-related memory impairment (AMI) in fruit flies. It was shown that inhibition of the NO-sGC pathway enhanced intermediate-term memory (ITM) in aged individuals, suggesting a potential mechanism underlying memory impairment in aging.
Article
Optics
J. A. Reboucas, P. A. Brandao
Summary: This paper applies perturbation theory to investigate one-dimensional scattering systems composed of inhomogeneous and isotropic slabs. The transmitted and reflected amplitudes are expressed as Born series and approximate solutions are obtained using Pade approximants with high and arbitrary accuracy. The approach is versatile and can handle oblique incidence.