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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
Neurosciences
Maria Bykhovskaia
Summary: Nerve terminals release neuronal transmitters at active zones (AZs), where synaptic vesicle fusion is probabilistic. Recently, the development of transgenic Drosophila lines expressing GCaMP has allowed for the visualization of single exocytic events at individual AZs. This mini-review discusses how this approach enables the study of evoked and spontaneous transmission at single AZs, improving our understanding of release components.
FRONTIERS IN MOLECULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Review
Oncology
Kevinn Eddy, Suzie Chen
Summary: Melanoma is the most aggressive and dangerous form of skin cancer, with poor prognosis for late-stage patients. Abnormal glutamatergic signaling contributes to melanoma and is a potential target for therapeutic strategies.
Article
Biology
Kaitlyn E. Brock, Robin L. Cooper
Summary: Bacterial toxin lipopolysaccharides (LPS) can trigger an immune system response, leading to illness in humans and animals. Recent studies have shown that the compound doxapram can block some of the negative effects of LPS. This study aimed to determine the general effect of doxapram on a crayfish model and its ability to block LPS-induced increases in transmission at synapses.
Article
Neurosciences
Kiel G. Ormerod, Anthony E. Scibelli, J. Troy Littleton
Summary: The Drosophila neuromuscular system has been used to study synaptic development and function, but little is known about specific synaptic alterations on neuromuscular transduction and muscle contractility. Studies show that larval muscle contraction force increases with motoneuron stimulation frequency and duration, with plasticity between 5 and 40 Hz. Genetic and pharmacological manipulations of Ca2+ regulation components affect muscle contraction strength and timing. Identification of a FMRFa peptide and its signaling pathway dramatically improves muscle performance, showcasing Drosophila as a model for studying excitation-contraction coupling.
JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-LONDON
(2022)
Review
Cell Biology
Falko Lange, Julia Hoernschemeyer, Timo Kirschstein
Summary: The progression of glioblastomas and tumor-associated epilepsy is closely linked through various pathophysiological mechanisms involving the neurotransmitter glutamate. Current research focuses on the role of glutamate receptors in these diseases and discusses future interventions to interfere with the glutamatergic network.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Chuan-Hsiu Liu, Mei-Ying Chen, Jack Cheng, Tsai-Ni Chuang, Hsin-Ping Liu, Wei-Yong Lin
Summary: This study found that Imidacloprid (IMD) may impair the glutamatergic plasticity of fruit flies' neuromuscular junction (NMJ) by mediating oxidative stress, leading to a weakened response to sensory stimuli.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Neurosciences
Leonid L. Moroz, Mikhail A. Nikitin, Pavlin G. Policar, Andrea B. Kohn, Daria Y. Romanova
Summary: Glutamate plays a key role as the primary excitatory transmitter in the mammalian brain, with its origin possibly traced back to primordial nitrogen and carbon metabolic pathways. The versatile chemistry of L-Glu places it at the intersection of cellular biochemistry as one of the most abundant metabolites.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sromana Mukherjee, Nuria Paricio, Nicholas S. Sokol
Summary: This study identifies a posttranscriptional mechanism that modulates BMP signaling activity within Drosophila adult intestinal tissue to regulate intestinal stem cell numbers during both normal homeostasis and tissue regeneration.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Jinfang Huang, Qian Xu, Yuhang Li, Xiaoman He, Yajie Guo, Xiangrong Sun
Summary: CaSR activation in the area postrema (AP) suppresses food intake, and glutamatergic and GABAergic signaling pathways in the AP-paraventricular nucleus (PVN) are involved.
MOLECULAR NUTRITION & FOOD RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Emily L. Hendricks, Ireland R. Smith, Bruna Prates, Fatemeh Barmaleki, Faith L. W. Liebl
Summary: The study reveals the role of CD63 and its homologs, Tsp42Ee and Tsp42Eg, in regulating synaptic vesicle pools and synaptic dysfunction. These proteins negatively regulate endocytosis and positively regulate neurotransmitter release. They also influence the synaptic cytoskeleton, membrane composition, and the localization of vesicle-associated proteins.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Bisei Ohkawara, Mikako Ito, Kinji Ohno
Summary: This review focuses on secreted signaling molecules that regulate the clustering of acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ), including neural agrin, Lrp4, MuSK, Rspo2, Fgf18, and Ctgf. These molecules play crucial roles in ensuring efficient signal transduction at the NMJ.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Soumya Banerjee, Samuel Vernon, Wei Jiao, Ben Jiwon Choi, Evelyne Ruchti, Jamshid Asadzadeh, Olivier Burri, R. Steven Stowers, Brian D. McCabe
Summary: The decline of synaptic structures and functions during ageing can be mitigated by enhancing miniature neurotransmission, which is essential for maintaining and prolonging motor ability in adult organisms.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Molly J. Kirk, Brittany R. Benlian, Yifu Han, Arya Gold, Ashvin Ravi, Parker E. Deal, Rosana S. Molina, Mikhail Drobizhev, Dion Dickman, Kristin Scott, Evan W. Miller
Summary: This study successfully combines a chemically-synthesized, voltage-sensitive fluorophore with a genetically encoded, self-labeling enzyme to enable voltage imaging in Drosophila melanogaster. Through in vivo experiments in intact fly brains, selective neuron labeling was achieved, validating the voltage sensitivity of RhoVR-Halo in fly tissue.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Virender K. Sahota, Aelfwin Stone, Nathaniel S. Woodling, Jereme G. Spiers, Joern R. Steinert, Linda Partridge, Hrvoje Augustin
Summary: Alterations in the neuromuscular system contribute to various diseases and aging-related muscle loss. This study identifies Plum as a modulator of MYO function in the neuromuscular system and reveals its role in regulating muscle size and synaptic function.
Article
Cell Biology
Mihaela Serpe
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF THE CELL
(2015)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Eric J. Horstick, Diana C. Jordan, Sadie A. Bergeron, Kathryn M. Tabor, Mihaela Serpe, Benjamin Feldman, Harold A. Burgess
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2015)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Tae Hee Han, Poorva Dharkar, Mark L. Mayer, Mihaela Serpe
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2015)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Young-Jun Kim, Oghomwen Igiesuorobo, Cathy I. Ramos, Hong Bao, Bing Zhang, Mihaela Serpe
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Cathy I. Ramos, Oghomwen Igiesuorobo, Qi Wang, Mihaela Serpe
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Joel R. Meyerson, Sagar Chittori, Alan Merk, Prashant Rao, Tae Hee Han, Mihaela Serpe, Mark L. Mayer, Sriram Subramaniam
Article
Neurosciences
Yan Li, Poorva Dharkar, Tae-Hee Han, Mihaela Serpe, Chi-Hon Lee, Mark L. Mayer
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Mikolaj J. Sulkowski, Tae Hee Han, Carolyn Ott, Qi Wang, Esther M. Verheyen, Jennifer Lippincott-Schwartz, Mihaela Serpe
Article
Biology
Qi Wang, Tae Hee Han, Peter Nguyen, Michel Jarnik, Mihaela Serpel
Article
Cell Biology
Kristi A. Wharton, Mihaela Serpe
CURRENT OPINION IN GENETICS & DEVELOPMENT
(2013)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Young-Jun Kim, Mihaela Serpe
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Tho Huu Nguyen, Tae Hee Han, Stuart J. Newfeld, Mihaela Serpe
Article
Cell Biology
Tae Hee Han, Rosario Vicidomini, Cathy Isaura Ramos, Qi Wang, Peter Nguyen, Michal Jarnik, Chi-Hon Lee, Michal Stawarski, Roberto X. Hernandez, Gregory T. Macleod, Mihaela Serpe
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Alexei Arnaoutov, Hangnoh Lee, Karen Plevock Haase, Vasilisa Aksenova, Michal Jarnik, Brian Oliver, Mihaela Serpe, Mary Dasso