Article
Neurosciences
Wan-Chen Wu, Samual P. Bradley, Jason M. Christie, Jason R. Pugh
Summary: Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a common form of childhood muscular dystrophy caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene. This study found that dystrophin deficiency disrupts inhibitory signaling in the cerebellar circuit and firing patterns of cerebellar cells, potentially contributing to cognitive and motor deficits observed in DMD patients.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Andrew J. Miller-Hansen, S. Murray Sherman
Summary: Higher-order thalamic nuclei contribute to sensory processing by projecting to primary and higher cortical areas, and their synapses in cortex have divergent properties depending on the cortical area they project to. Furthermore, the inputs to higher-order thalamus come from layer 5 neurons in primary and higher cortical areas. These findings reveal a conserved organization in thalamocortical circuitry and suggest the existence of transthalamic pathways acting as drivers in the feedback direction.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ye Wang, Amy K. Y. Fu, Nancy Y. Ip
Summary: In the adult hippocampus, astrocytes, the most common glial cells, play a crucial role in regulating synaptic plasticity. Astrocytes are highly heterogeneous in response to changes in neuronal activity and can modulate synaptic communication through various pathways, ultimately influencing memory performance and cognitive functions. Dysregulation of astrocytic signaling can lead to hippocampal circuit dysfunction and cognitive impairment, as observed in conditions like Alzheimer's disease.
Article
Neurosciences
Hemanth Mohan, Xu An, X. Hermione Xu, Hideki Kondo, Shengli Zhao, Katherine S. S. Matho, Bor-Shuen Wang, Simon Musall, Partha Mitra, Z. Josh Huang
Summary: This study reveals that the cellular basis of cerebral cortex functional architecture is not well understood. The activity dynamics of subcortical-projecting and intratelencephalic-projecting neurons in the dorsal cortex of mice during different brain states and behaviors were monitored using genetic targeting and wide-field imaging. The results show that these projection neurons process information and their projection patterns are consistent with their activation patterns.
NATURE NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Bruno G. Frenguelli
Summary: This article discusses the Neuropharmacology Special Issue on 'Glutamate Receptors -The Glutamatergic Synapse', focusing on the importance of glutamate as a neurotransmitter and the central role of the glutamatergic synapse in neuronal signaling.
Review
Anatomy & Morphology
Andiara E. E. Freitas, Lilach Gorodetski, Wei Ling Lim, Yimin Zou
Summary: This review summarizes the key evidence that PCP proteins may be responsible for the formation and stability of the majority of glutamatergic synapses, and how disruption of PCP protein function can lead to neurodegenerative, neurodevelopmental, and neuropsychiatric disorders. The PCP proteins may be the missing pieces of a long-standing puzzle and filling this knowledge gap may provide the basis for understanding many unsolved questions in synapse biology.
DEVELOPMENTAL DYNAMICS
(2023)
Editorial Material
Neurosciences
Chie Satou, Rainer W. Friedrich
Summary: In their study, Gurnani and Silver found that activity across Golgi cells, a major type of inhibitory interneuron in the cerebellar cortex, is multidimensional and modulated by behavior, suggesting multiple functions for inhibition in cerebellar computations.
Review
Neurosciences
Constantino Sotelo
Summary: Over the past 50 years, our understanding of the cerebellum has evolved significantly, from the description of extracerebellar projections' terminations by Voogd to the discovery of the biochemical heterogeneity of Purkinje cells by Hawkes and colleagues, leading to a more complex subdivision of the cerebellar cortex into precise longitudinal compartments.
Review
Cell Biology
Benedikt Zott, Arthur Konnerth
Summary: One of the key characteristics of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the destruction of cells and neurons in the brain. This study aims to understand the origins and precursors of this damage in order to develop effective treatment strategies for AD. The research reviews evidence of impairments in glutamatergic synaptic transmission in AD patients and animal models, suggesting that the accumulation of toxic beta-amyloid aggregates disrupts glutamate reuptake, causing neuronal depolarization and potential neurotoxicity.
SEMINARS IN CELL & DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Multidisciplinary
FuQiang Wu, YiTong Guo, Jun Ma
Summary: In the presence of external stimuli and electromagnetic radiation, biological neurons can exhibit different firing patterns and switch to appropriate firing modes due to intrinsic self-adaption. Memristive synapses coupled to neurons can discern the effect of electromagnetic radiation and can be effectively regulated by external physical fields. Moreover, the energy flow in the memristive channel plays a crucial role in controlling the growth and enhancement of memristive synapses. The findings contribute to the understanding of why and how multiple firing modes are induced and controlled, as well as the self-adaption property of memristive neurons.
SCIENCE CHINA-TECHNOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Wajeha Hamoudi, Manish Kumar Tripathi, Shashank Kumar Ojha, Haitham Amal
Summary: This study identifies novel SNO of key glutamatergic proteins in Shank3 mutant mice and reveals a cross-talk between nitric oxide and the glutamatergic system.
FREE RADICAL BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
(2022)
Review
Cell Biology
Xin Wang, Anne Ramat, Martine Simonelig, Mo-Fang Liu
Summary: PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are important small non-coding RNAs that play crucial roles in germ line development through silencing transposable elements and regulating protein-coding genes. Recent studies have advanced our understanding of piRNA biogenesis and function, and highlighted their significance in human infertility, cancer, and neurological diseases.
NATURE REVIEWS MOLECULAR CELL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Kaikai He, Yifu Han, Xiling Li, Roberto X. Hernandez, Danielle Riboul, Touhid Feghhi, Karlis A. Justs, Olena Mahneva, Sarah Perry, Gregory T. Macleod, Dion Dickman
Summary: Neurons exhibit functional diversity and can be classified into tonic or phasic patterns of activity. The synaptic differences between tonic and phasic neurons have remained unclear, but this study found major distinctions in neurotransmitter release properties, Ca2+ influx, and synaptic vesicle coupling between these two types of neurons. The organization and stoichiometry of voltage-gated Ca2+ channels at phasic neuron release sites were also observed to be different. These findings suggest that active zone nano-architecture and Ca2+ influx contribute to differential glutamate release at tonic and phasic synapses.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Review
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Yong S. Wang, Tian Y. Qiu, Qiang Fu, Si Q. Xiong, Ze Z. Wang, Ming F. Lu, Jian H. Yang, Zhen Z. Hu
Summary: This article summarizes the signal transduction mechanisms of GABA(B) receptors and their role in synaptic strength and plasticity. It also explores the association between GABA(B) receptors and neuropsychiatric conditions. The research is important for designing therapeutic strategies and improving prognosis rates.
BIOMEDICINE & PHARMACOTHERAPY
(2022)
Review
Neurosciences
Takashi Hayashi
Summary: Glutamate is the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the vertebrate brain, regulated by S-palmitoylation. Palmitoylation of some glutamate receptor-binding proteins is subsequently acquired only in some mammalian lineages.
FRONTIERS IN MOLECULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
