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Common anti-seizure drug prevents Alzheimer’s plaques from forming

Researchers discovered that levetiracetam prevents the production of toxic amyloid-beta 42 peptides and plaques in neurons. Administering the drug to high-risk individuals may slow cognitive decline and prevent Alzheimer's symptoms if started early, possibly up to 20 years before symptoms appear.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalScience Translational Medicine

Discovery shines light on a cascade of events that occurs when toxic tau impacts synapses, suggesting new mechanisms for neurodegeneration

Researchers developed a new tool to track changes in the synaptic proteome over time, correlating changes to synaptic dysregulation and synapse loss. The results suggest that toxic tau oligomers impact postsynaptic structures first, leading to a dynamic cascade of events that contribute to neurodegeneration.

SourceBuck Institute for Research on Aging·JournalMolecular Neurodegeneration·TypeExperimental study

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Imaging synaptic vesicles in 3D

Max Delbrück Center researchers have uncovered new features of the molecular architecture of synaptic vesicles using cryo-electron tomography. The study reveals a persistent association between V-ATPase and synaptophysin, suggesting an important function in neurotransmission.

SourceMax Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study

Damage to synapses caused by Alzheimer’s disease reversed

Researchers at OIST have discovered a novel treatment that effectively reverses the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease in mice. The treatment, PHDP5, targets the dynamin-microtubule interaction and restores communication between neurons inside synapses.

SourceOkinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Graduate University·JournalBrain Research·TypeExperimental study

Imaging technology captures how neurons communicate with new clarity

Researchers used advanced imaging technology to reveal the atomic structure of an enzyme that neurons use to communicate. The study provides new insights into synaptic function and may lead to therapeutic targets for epilepsy and other neurological conditions.

SourceThe Hospital for Sick Children·JournalScience

Mechanism decoded: How synapses are formed

A team of scientists has shed light on how synapses are formed by identifying a shared transport pathway involving motor proteins and unique organelles. This discovery could lead to new therapeutic approaches for neurological disorders and improve understanding of neuronal regeneration.

SourceLeibniz-Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie·JournalScience·TypeExperimental study

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Mechanisms to separately regulate synaptic vesicle release and recycling

Scientists have identified a dual-control system that regulates the release and recycling of synaptic vesicles, enabling precise signal transmission. Calcium channels Ca2 and Ca1 are spatially segregated, with Ca2 required for exocytosis and Ca1 enhancing endocytosis, demonstrating separate control of these processes.

SourceJohannes Gutenberg Universitaet Mainz·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

How proteins control information processing in the brain

Researchers at Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg studied protein interactions in synaptic vesicles, uncovering how they mesh like cogs in a clockwork mechanism. This understanding helps recognize and understand malfunctions that could trigger diseases such as Alzheimer's.

SourceMartin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg·JournalNature Communications

Glutamate in the brain has unexpected qualities, researchers show with new analysis method

Glutamate molecules have unexpected qualities, researchers show with a new analysis method. The technique measures activity and quantity of glutamate in brain cells, shedding light on its role in neurological disorders and diseases. This breakthrough could help improve understanding of pathologies and deliver real benefit.

SourceChalmers University of Technology·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society

Presynapses come in a packet

Researchers discovered that vesicle and scaffold proteins arrive at nascent synapses as preformed functional units, enabling instantaneous neurotransmitter release. The findings may aid in designing better nerve-regenerating therapies and accelerating synapse formation after injuries.

SourceForschungsverbund Berlin·JournalNeuron

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Protein droplets keep neurons at the ready and immune system in balance

Researchers have discovered that protein droplets, which self-organize into liquid-like structures inside cells, enable neurons to transmit signals quickly and efficiently. In the immune system, droplets of a danger-sensing enzyme trigger an immune response by generating signals that launch defense mechanisms.

SourceHoward Hughes Medical Institute·JournalScience

Researchers reveal new insights into how your brain keeps its balance

An interdisciplinary team of scientists discovered that ATM and ATR regulate each other's levels in the brain to maintain a balance between excitation and inhibition. Regular brain activity also changes the levels of these proteins, creating a dynamic 'conversation' that helps keep the appropriate E/I balance.

SourceHong Kong University of Science and Technology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

New gene shown to cause Parkinson's disease

Researchers discovered mutations in TMEM230, a new gene linked to Parkinson's disease, in patients from North America and Asia. The gene produces a protein involved in dopamine packaging in neurons, which is crucial for movement disorder diagnosis.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalNature Genetics

Shigeki Watanabe wins 2015 Eppendorf/Science Prize

Shigeki Watanabe has developed a novel ultrafast technique called 'flash-and-freeze' to visualize nerve cell activity on a rapid time scale. The technique reveals that vesicle recycling in neurons occurs through two mechanisms, an ultrafast one and a slower clathrin-dependent process.

SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

Researchers clock the speed of brain signals

Two studies reveal individual neurons control synaptic vesicle recycling speed, with variations across different neurons. This finding refines neuroscience's understanding of neurotransmission at the synaptic gap between brain cells.

SourceNewYork-Presbyterian·JournalNature Neuroscience

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Skywalker ensures optimal communication between neurons

The discovery of the Skywalker enzyme reveals a crucial step in vesicle recycling, leading to improved signal transmission and potentially new diagnostics and therapies for Parkinson's disease. Understanding this process may help maintain optimal communication balance between brain cells.

SourceVIB (the Flanders Institute for Biotechnology)·JournalCell

Synapses recycle proteins for the release of neurotransmitters

Researchers at Max Planck Institute develop new method to measure synaptic vesicle priming, revealing SNAPs play crucial role in recycling SNARE complexes. Disruption of this process can lead to communication breakdown and vital processes like sight or sound detection being impaired.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalNeuron

Communication breakdown: what happens to nerve cells in Parkinson's disease

Researchers at McGill University discover a molecular link between Parkinson's disease and impaired nerve cell communication. They found that parkin protein binds to endophilin-A, affecting synaptic transmission and potentially leading to dopamine neuron death.

SourceMcGill University·JournalMolecular Cell

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'Friend' protein keeps nerve signals in check

The newly discovered tomosyn protein appears to play a key role in regulating synaptic release of neurotransmitters, suggesting its involvement in learning and memory. Mutant worms lacking tomosyn exhibit excessive neurotransmitter release, highlighting the protein's negative regulatory effect on synapse efficiency.

SourceUniversity of Illinois Chicago·JournalPLOS Biology

Researchers discover botulism toxin's insidious route into nerve cells

A research team led by Edwin R. Chapman identified the cellular receptor for botulinum neurotoxin A as SV2, a protein on actively recycling synaptic vesicles. This finding offers new insights into how the toxin shuts down nerve cells with deadly efficiency.

SourceHoward Hughes Medical Institute·JournalScience

New research questions basic tenet of neuron function

New research by UT Southwestern scientists reveals complexity in organization of synaptic vesicles within individual synapses, challenging long-held assumptions about neurotransmitter release. Two distinct types of synaptic vesicles are found to be responsible for spontaneous and activity-dependent release, which may aid in understandi...

SourceUT Southwestern Medical Center·JournalNeuron

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Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply powers sensors, microcontrollers, and test circuits with programmable rails and stable outputs.

Study reveals function of lipid in neuronal synapses

A study by Yale University researchers reveals that lowering a specific lipid in nerve terminals affects neurotransmitter exchange between neurons. The findings have implications for understanding synaptic transmission and potentially developing new treatments for diseases like Down syndrome, cancer, and diabetes.

SourceYale University·JournalNature