9/5
C. elegans as a model for inter-individual variation in metabolism (Nature 2022 Albertha J. M. Walhout (UMass), Frank C. Schroeder (Cornell), Erik C. Andersen (Northwestern))
1. Significant differences in abundance of known and unknown metabolites that have not been previously described in different nematodes
2. Mutations in genes encoding metabolic enzymes lead to excessive accumulation/consumption of metabolites and induce inborn errors of metabolism
3. A single amino acid variation in a metabolic enzyme can induce the synthesis of a new class of metabolites and lead to differences in metabolic mechanisms among different nematodes
C. elegans as a model for inter-individual variation in metabolism (Nature 2022 Albertha J. M. Walhout (UMass), Frank C. Schroeder (Cornell), Erik C. Andersen (Northwestern))
1. Significant differences in abundance of known and unknown metabolites that have not been previously described in different nematodes
2. Mutations in genes encoding metabolic enzymes lead to excessive accumulation/consumption of metabolites and induce inborn errors of metabolism
3. A single amino acid variation in a metabolic enzyme can induce the synthesis of a new class of metabolites and lead to differences in metabolic mechanisms among different nematodes
9/5
Systemic induction of senescence in young mice after single heterochronic blood exchange (Nature Metabolism 2022 UCB Irina M. Conboy)
1. Method: Heterochronic parabiosis - young and old mice are surgically connected so that their blood, organs, and environment are shared
2. Older mouse blood induced cellular and tissue senescence in younger animals after a single exchange, whereas this induction of senescence was abrogated if aged animals were treated with antiaging drugs prior to the blood exchange. Thereby attenuating the aging-promoting effect of aged blood on young mice.
Systemic induction of senescence in young mice after single heterochronic blood exchange (Nature Metabolism 2022 UCB Irina M. Conboy)
1. Method: Heterochronic parabiosis - young and old mice are surgically connected so that their blood, organs, and environment are shared
2. Older mouse blood induced cellular and tissue senescence in younger animals after a single exchange, whereas this induction of senescence was abrogated if aged animals were treated with antiaging drugs prior to the blood exchange. Thereby attenuating the aging-promoting effect of aged blood on young mice.
9/6
Nuclear chromosome locations dictate segregation error frequencies (Nature 2022 Geert J. P. L. Kops the Netherlands)
Aneuploidy: The occurrence of one or more extra or missing chromosomes leading to an unbalanced chromosome complement, or any chromosome number that is not an exact multiple of the haploid number
Aneuploidy is usually caused by errors in chromosome segregation during cell division, such as altered microtubule dynamics, hyperstable centromere-microtubule junctions, cohesion problems, or the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) weakened activity, etc.
This research used post-mitotic scKaryo-seq (Single-cell karyotype sequencing) technology and found that different chromosomes have different segregation error frequencies, and then explored the factors affecting the deviation of aneuploidy structure.
The authors' work uses diploid cell lines and organoid cells, etc. By introducing post-mitotic chromosome segregation errors and performing single-cell sequencing, they found that the frequency of chromosome missegregation is not random, and the wrongly segregated chromosomes are also preferentially packaged into micronuclei. In addition, the authors found that the initial deviation of this chromosome segregation error was related to the location of the chromosome in the nucleus.
Their findings reveal a direct link between nuclear chromosome location, segregation error frequency, and micronucleus content, with important implications for understanding the origin of specific aneuploidies during tumor genome evolution and development.
Nuclear chromosome locations dictate segregation error frequencies (Nature 2022 Geert J. P. L. Kops the Netherlands)
Aneuploidy: The occurrence of one or more extra or missing chromosomes leading to an unbalanced chromosome complement, or any chromosome number that is not an exact multiple of the haploid number
Aneuploidy is usually caused by errors in chromosome segregation during cell division, such as altered microtubule dynamics, hyperstable centromere-microtubule junctions, cohesion problems, or the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) weakened activity, etc.
This research used post-mitotic scKaryo-seq (Single-cell karyotype sequencing) technology and found that different chromosomes have different segregation error frequencies, and then explored the factors affecting the deviation of aneuploidy structure.
The authors' work uses diploid cell lines and organoid cells, etc. By introducing post-mitotic chromosome segregation errors and performing single-cell sequencing, they found that the frequency of chromosome missegregation is not random, and the wrongly segregated chromosomes are also preferentially packaged into micronuclei. In addition, the authors found that the initial deviation of this chromosome segregation error was related to the location of the chromosome in the nucleus.
Their findings reveal a direct link between nuclear chromosome location, segregation error frequency, and micronucleus content, with important implications for understanding the origin of specific aneuploidies during tumor genome evolution and development.
9/6
The TRESLIN-MTBP complex couples completion of DNA replication with S/G2 transition (Molecular Cell 2022 Luis Toledo University of Copenhagen)
The TRESLIN-MTBP complex monitors replication origin triggering to couple DNA replication to the timely transition from S to G2 phase
It uncovers a critical function in mammalian cell cycle regulation that prevents premature entry from early S phase to G2 phase independent of the canonical ATR/CHK1 pathway.
The TRESLIN-MTBP complex couples completion of DNA replication with S/G2 transition (Molecular Cell 2022 Luis Toledo University of Copenhagen)
The TRESLIN-MTBP complex monitors replication origin triggering to couple DNA replication to the timely transition from S to G2 phase
It uncovers a critical function in mammalian cell cycle regulation that prevents premature entry from early S phase to G2 phase independent of the canonical ATR/CHK1 pathway.
9/6
Microtubule plus-ends act as physical signaling hubs to activate RhoA during cytokinesis (eLife UMass 2019 Thomas Maresca)
Microtubules are essential for cleavage furrow positioning during cytokinesis.
The RhoA GEF Pebble (Dm ECT2) did not evidently tip-track, but rather localized rapidly to cortical sites contracted by MT plus-tips - RhoA activation and enrichment of myosin-regulatory light chain
MT plus-end-associated centralspindlin recruits a cortical pool of Dm ECT2 upon physical contact to activate RhoA and to trigger localized contractility.
Microtubule plus-ends act as physical signaling hubs to activate RhoA during cytokinesis (eLife UMass 2019 Thomas Maresca)
Microtubules are essential for cleavage furrow positioning during cytokinesis.
The RhoA GEF Pebble (Dm ECT2) did not evidently tip-track, but rather localized rapidly to cortical sites contracted by MT plus-tips - RhoA activation and enrichment of myosin-regulatory light chain
MT plus-end-associated centralspindlin recruits a cortical pool of Dm ECT2 upon physical contact to activate RhoA and to trigger localized contractility.
Paper/Seminar Record
9/6 Microtubule plus-ends act as physical signaling hubs to activate RhoA during cytokinesis (eLife UMass 2019 Thomas Maresca) Microtubules are essential for cleavage furrow positioning during cytokinesis. The RhoA GEF Pebble (Dm ECT2) did not evidently tip…
Actomyosin contractile ring: cell division ends with the formation of an actomyosin contractile ring
centralspindlin complex: a highly conserved and essential regulator of furrow positioning
Centralspindlin is a robust MT bundler and following anaphase onset the complex becomes highly enriched in MT overlaps. Interestingly, centralspindlin components have also been observed at the cell cortex and at MT plus-ends post-anaphase
Spatio-temporal regulation of cytokinesis is also controlled by a complex interplay of cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1), Aurora B kinase (ABK), and Polo kinase.
midzone localization of the ABK-containing chromosomal passenger complex (CPC) is dependent on the plus-end directed motor MKLP2
ABK’s cortical localization depends on actin binding by the CPC component INCENP
Specialized MT plus-tips enriched with centralspindlin were deemed ‘‘cytokinesis signaling TIPs’’, referred to hereafter as CS-TIPs, because they recruited cortical ECT2 and locally activated RhoA
centralspindlin complex: a highly conserved and essential regulator of furrow positioning
Centralspindlin is a robust MT bundler and following anaphase onset the complex becomes highly enriched in MT overlaps. Interestingly, centralspindlin components have also been observed at the cell cortex and at MT plus-ends post-anaphase
Spatio-temporal regulation of cytokinesis is also controlled by a complex interplay of cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1), Aurora B kinase (ABK), and Polo kinase.
midzone localization of the ABK-containing chromosomal passenger complex (CPC) is dependent on the plus-end directed motor MKLP2
ABK’s cortical localization depends on actin binding by the CPC component INCENP
Specialized MT plus-tips enriched with centralspindlin were deemed ‘‘cytokinesis signaling TIPs’’, referred to hereafter as CS-TIPs, because they recruited cortical ECT2 and locally activated RhoA
9/6
Microtubule dynamics (JCS 2002 Rebecca Heald)
Microtubules are highly dynamic and switch stochastically between growing and shrinking phases both in vivo and in vitro.
The GTP-cap model proposes that the body of the microtubule, which comprises GDP-tubulin subunits, is unstable. The microtubule structure is stabilized by a layer of GTP tubulin subunits at the end that may act to maintain association between protofilaments. When this cap is stochastically lost, the protofilaments peel outward and the microtubule rapidly depolymerizes.
Stabilize/ destabilize
microtubule-organizing centers/MTOC: composed of a pair of cylindrical centrioles surrounded by pericentriolar material containing an isoform of tubulin (γ-tubulin) in a large complex that includes other proteins (collectively known as ‘grips’) and functions as a nucleating seed: the γ-tubulin ring complex (γ-TuRC)
Microtubule dynamics (JCS 2002 Rebecca Heald)
Microtubules are highly dynamic and switch stochastically between growing and shrinking phases both in vivo and in vitro.
The GTP-cap model proposes that the body of the microtubule, which comprises GDP-tubulin subunits, is unstable. The microtubule structure is stabilized by a layer of GTP tubulin subunits at the end that may act to maintain association between protofilaments. When this cap is stochastically lost, the protofilaments peel outward and the microtubule rapidly depolymerizes.
Stabilize/ destabilize
microtubule-organizing centers/MTOC: composed of a pair of cylindrical centrioles surrounded by pericentriolar material containing an isoform of tubulin (γ-tubulin) in a large complex that includes other proteins (collectively known as ‘grips’) and functions as a nucleating seed: the γ-tubulin ring complex (γ-TuRC)
Paper/Seminar Record
9/6 Microtubule dynamics (JCS 2002 Rebecca Heald) Microtubules are highly dynamic and switch stochastically between growing and shrinking phases both in vivo and in vitro. The GTP-cap model proposes that the body of the microtubule, which comprises GDP-tubulin…
Stability: microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs)
bind to the surface of the microtubule
bridging several tubulin subunits
possibly neutralizing the repulsive negative charge on the microtubule surface
Distability
The microtubule-destabilizing factor katanin functions as a severing factor, generating new ends lacking a GTP cap
Depolymerizing kinesins of the KinI family bind to microtubule ends and distort the microtubule lattice, forcing protofilament peeling
bind to the surface of the microtubule
bridging several tubulin subunits
possibly neutralizing the repulsive negative charge on the microtubule surface
Distability
The microtubule-destabilizing factor katanin functions as a severing factor, generating new ends lacking a GTP cap
Depolymerizing kinesins of the KinI family bind to microtubule ends and distort the microtubule lattice, forcing protofilament peeling
9/7
Design, construction, and in vivo augmentation of a complex gut microbiome (Cell 2022 Michael A. Fischbach Kerwyn Casey Huang Stanford University)
A well-defined, highly complex (containing 119 strains) synthetic microbial community that more effectively reflects the role of the human gut microbiota was constructed.
Sequencing by metagenomic sequencing and developed a new algorithm - NinjaMap
Bowtie2, SAMtools: high sensitivity but low accuracy
Kraken2, MetaPhlAn2: low sensitivity
hCom1 - construct and characterize in vitro a defined community of 104 bacterial species
hCom2 - identified new species that engrafted following fecal challenge and added them to hCom1
Design, construction, and in vivo augmentation of a complex gut microbiome (Cell 2022 Michael A. Fischbach Kerwyn Casey Huang Stanford University)
A well-defined, highly complex (containing 119 strains) synthetic microbial community that more effectively reflects the role of the human gut microbiota was constructed.
Sequencing by metagenomic sequencing and developed a new algorithm - NinjaMap
Bowtie2, SAMtools: high sensitivity but low accuracy
Kraken2, MetaPhlAn2: low sensitivity
hCom1 - construct and characterize in vitro a defined community of 104 bacterial species
hCom2 - identified new species that engrafted following fecal challenge and added them to hCom1
9/7
Purified kinesin promotes vesicle motility and induces active sliding between microtubules in vitro (PNAS 1991 JHU)
Kinesin induced the formation of microtubule aster with the plus ends of microtubules located at the center of each aster
Formed small foci first and then the foci coalesce into large asters
Purified kinesin promotes vesicle motility and induces active sliding between microtubules in vitro (PNAS 1991 JHU)
Kinesin induced the formation of microtubule aster with the plus ends of microtubules located at the center of each aster
Formed small foci first and then the foci coalesce into large asters
9/8
Translatome and transcriptome co-profiling reveals a role of TPRXs in human zygotic genome activation (2022 Science 清华 Wei xie)
oocyte-to-embryo transition (OET)
human zygotic genome activation (ZGA): The first transcriptional events at the onset of life and key events that initiate embryonic developmental processes - still unclear
This paper made the translational map during the transition from human eggs to early embryos, revealing the differences in the dynamic changes of translation levels in human-mouse eggs and early embryos
Identifies a group of Homeobox transcription factors, including TPRXL, TPRX1, and TPRX2, as key regulators of human zygotic genome activation
Method - R2-lite (Ribo-RNA-lite): a combination of Ribo-lite (Ligation-free, ultra-low-InpuT and Enhanced Ribo-seq) - Ultrasensitive translational genome sequencing technology and Smart-seq2 - Transcriptome Sequencing Technology.
Transcriptome: A transcriptome is the full range of messenger RNA, or mRNA, molecules expressed by an organism
Translational genome: DNA set
Translatome and transcriptome co-profiling reveals a role of TPRXs in human zygotic genome activation (2022 Science 清华 Wei xie)
oocyte-to-embryo transition (OET)
human zygotic genome activation (ZGA): The first transcriptional events at the onset of life and key events that initiate embryonic developmental processes - still unclear
This paper made the translational map during the transition from human eggs to early embryos, revealing the differences in the dynamic changes of translation levels in human-mouse eggs and early embryos
Identifies a group of Homeobox transcription factors, including TPRXL, TPRX1, and TPRX2, as key regulators of human zygotic genome activation
Method - R2-lite (Ribo-RNA-lite): a combination of Ribo-lite (Ligation-free, ultra-low-InpuT and Enhanced Ribo-seq) - Ultrasensitive translational genome sequencing technology and Smart-seq2 - Transcriptome Sequencing Technology.
Transcriptome: A transcriptome is the full range of messenger RNA, or mRNA, molecules expressed by an organism
Translational genome: DNA set
9/8
High-throughput continuous evolution of compact Cas9 variants targeting single-nucleotide-pyrimidine PAMs (Nature biotechnology 2022 David Liu; Ahmad S. Khalil - BU)
In recent years, researchers have used various strategies to upgrade SpCas9, which has expanded its PAM recognition sequence from traditional NGG to NG, NRN and even NYN, effectively expanding the application prospects of SpCas9 and its derivatives
Mutants of SpCas9 are well-edited at purine-like PAM sites (NRN), but still insufficient at pyrimidine-like PAM sites (NYN).
SpCas9 also has shortcomings such as its large size (1368 amino acids), which is difficult for it to deliver.
With the help of the upgraded protein-directed evolution system, a series of optimization and transformation of the small Cas9 system Nme2Cas9 was carried out. The modified Nme2Cas9 mutant successfully broke through the limitation of traditional PAM (N4CC), which can effectively identify N4YN-type PAM and achieve efficient gene editing.
High-throughput continuous evolution of compact Cas9 variants targeting single-nucleotide-pyrimidine PAMs (Nature biotechnology 2022 David Liu; Ahmad S. Khalil - BU)
In recent years, researchers have used various strategies to upgrade SpCas9, which has expanded its PAM recognition sequence from traditional NGG to NG, NRN and even NYN, effectively expanding the application prospects of SpCas9 and its derivatives
Mutants of SpCas9 are well-edited at purine-like PAM sites (NRN), but still insufficient at pyrimidine-like PAM sites (NYN).
SpCas9 also has shortcomings such as its large size (1368 amino acids), which is difficult for it to deliver.
With the help of the upgraded protein-directed evolution system, a series of optimization and transformation of the small Cas9 system Nme2Cas9 was carried out. The modified Nme2Cas9 mutant successfully broke through the limitation of traditional PAM (N4CC), which can effectively identify N4YN-type PAM and achieve efficient gene editing.
9/9
Excitatory SST neurons in the medial paralemniscal nucleus control repetitive self-grooming and encode reward (Neuron 2022 上交 Ju Huang)
Excitatory SST neurons in the medial parabrachial nucleus control repetitive self-grooming and encode reward
Human body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs) refer to a set of periodic non-functional behaviors directed at the body (such as hair pulling and skin scratching or intense urges like biting, picking, and pulling that can cause damage)
BFRBs may have emotion-regulating effects, allowing individuals to manage negative emotions under stressful exposure by reducing arousal and resisting anxiety
Excitatory SST neurons in the medial paralemniscal nucleus control repetitive self-grooming and encode reward (Neuron 2022 上交 Ju Huang)
Excitatory SST neurons in the medial parabrachial nucleus control repetitive self-grooming and encode reward
Human body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs) refer to a set of periodic non-functional behaviors directed at the body (such as hair pulling and skin scratching or intense urges like biting, picking, and pulling that can cause damage)
BFRBs may have emotion-regulating effects, allowing individuals to manage negative emotions under stressful exposure by reducing arousal and resisting anxiety
9/12
Geometric trade-off between contractile force and viscous drag determines the actomyosin-based motility of a cell-sized droplet (2022 PNAS Kyushu University)
propulsive force can be generated by the physical interaction between contracting active cytoskeleton and inner droplet surface
the force balance between propulsive force and confinement-induced viscous drag determines the migration speed, revealing a physical mechanism of the active cytoskeleton-based motility that utilizes environmental mechanical constraints
A new in vitro migratory cell model: cytoplasmic actomyosin networks are encapsulated into droplets surrounded by a lipid monolayer membrane
Geometric trade-off between contractile force and viscous drag determines the actomyosin-based motility of a cell-sized droplet (2022 PNAS Kyushu University)
propulsive force can be generated by the physical interaction between contracting active cytoskeleton and inner droplet surface
the force balance between propulsive force and confinement-induced viscous drag determines the migration speed, revealing a physical mechanism of the active cytoskeleton-based motility that utilizes environmental mechanical constraints
A new in vitro migratory cell model: cytoplasmic actomyosin networks are encapsulated into droplets surrounded by a lipid monolayer membrane
9/12
Structural basis of nucleosome disassembly and reassembly by RNAPII elongation complex with FACT (Science Japan 2022)
Within the nucleus of eukaryotic cells, genomic DNA forms a highly ordered compact structure called chromatin. The basic unit of chromatin is the nucleosome, which is formed by 147bp DNA wrapped around a histone octamer, which contains two copies of each of the four histones (H2A, H2B, H3, H4).
The researchers used cryo-electron microscopy to resolve multiple structures of the RNAPII extension complex (EC) through the nucleosome, captured the details of the EC's advancement on DNA, and found that EC can mediate downstream nucleosome depolymerization and upstream reassembly, The histone chaperone FACT facilitates this process
Structural basis of nucleosome disassembly and reassembly by RNAPII elongation complex with FACT (Science Japan 2022)
Within the nucleus of eukaryotic cells, genomic DNA forms a highly ordered compact structure called chromatin. The basic unit of chromatin is the nucleosome, which is formed by 147bp DNA wrapped around a histone octamer, which contains two copies of each of the four histones (H2A, H2B, H3, H4).
The researchers used cryo-electron microscopy to resolve multiple structures of the RNAPII extension complex (EC) through the nucleosome, captured the details of the EC's advancement on DNA, and found that EC can mediate downstream nucleosome depolymerization and upstream reassembly, The histone chaperone FACT facilitates this process
9/12
Immune-microbe interactions early in life: A determinant of health and disease long term (Science 2022 Petter Brodin Imperial College London)
This article explores the interactions between the microbiome and the host immune system around the prenatal, perinatal and postnatal phases, and discusses early microbiome perturbations and mismatches between "ancestral" and modern environments effects on health and disease.
Prenatal phase - The role of transplacentally transferred microbial components may be to provide antigens to fetal T cells, thereby lowering their activation threshold in preparation for subsequent microbial colonization and preventing an excessive immune response.
Perinatal phase - Different modes of delivery lead to large differences in the microbiome in the early postpartum period - However, microbes acquired through vaginal delivery and those from the gut are better suited for surviving in the baby's gut
Postnatal phase - After birth, immune cells must be able to recognize the microbes that colonize the body and make the right decision—accept them or kill them.
Immune-microbe interactions early in life: A determinant of health and disease long term (Science 2022 Petter Brodin Imperial College London)
This article explores the interactions between the microbiome and the host immune system around the prenatal, perinatal and postnatal phases, and discusses early microbiome perturbations and mismatches between "ancestral" and modern environments effects on health and disease.
Prenatal phase - The role of transplacentally transferred microbial components may be to provide antigens to fetal T cells, thereby lowering their activation threshold in preparation for subsequent microbial colonization and preventing an excessive immune response.
Perinatal phase - Different modes of delivery lead to large differences in the microbiome in the early postpartum period - However, microbes acquired through vaginal delivery and those from the gut are better suited for surviving in the baby's gut
Postnatal phase - After birth, immune cells must be able to recognize the microbes that colonize the body and make the right decision—accept them or kill them.
9/14
The TRESLIN-MTBP complex couples completion of DNA replication with S/G2 transition (2022 Molecular Biology Luis Toledo University of Copenhagen)
Cell cycle checkpoints in yeast are controlled by Mec1 and Rad53 kinases
Homologs of Mec1 and Rad53 in humans are ATR and CHK1, respectively, and were found to be key responders to replication stress (RS) and DNA damage
ATR/CHK1: Under normal conditions, they are also active in S phase, and throughout S phase cells rely on this ATR/CHK1 activity to limit CDK2 activity and regulate the triggering of origins of replication - DNA Replication Monitoring System
However, the ability of ATR/CHK1 to prevent premature entry into mitosis is rather limited
The TRESLIN-MTBP complex couples completion of DNA replication with S/G2 transition (2022 Molecular Biology Luis Toledo University of Copenhagen)
Cell cycle checkpoints in yeast are controlled by Mec1 and Rad53 kinases
Homologs of Mec1 and Rad53 in humans are ATR and CHK1, respectively, and were found to be key responders to replication stress (RS) and DNA damage
ATR/CHK1: Under normal conditions, they are also active in S phase, and throughout S phase cells rely on this ATR/CHK1 activity to limit CDK2 activity and regulate the triggering of origins of replication - DNA Replication Monitoring System
However, the ability of ATR/CHK1 to prevent premature entry into mitosis is rather limited
Paper/Seminar Record
9/14 The TRESLIN-MTBP complex couples completion of DNA replication with S/G2 transition (2022 Molecular Biology Luis Toledo University of Copenhagen) Cell cycle checkpoints in yeast are controlled by Mec1 and Rad53 kinases Homologs of Mec1 and Rad53 in humans…
This article finds that the TRESLIN-MTBP complex monitors the triggering of origins of replication to couple DNA replication to the timely transition from S phase to G2 phase, thereby revealing a protective mechanism independent of the canonical ATR/CHK1 pathway in mammals. A key function of cell cycle regulation in early entry into G2 phase from early S phase.
The TRESLIN-MTBP complex possesses the controlled ability to simultaneously promote DNA replication and inhibit entry into G2 phase
The TRESLIN-MTBP complex possesses the controlled ability to simultaneously promote DNA replication and inhibit entry into G2 phase
9/14
Living material assembly of bacteriogenic protocells (Nature 2022 University of Bristol Stephen Mann)
Protocells: Artificial construction with functions similar to living cells
The researchers broke the traditional method of using non-living substances to construct artificial cells, developed a method for spatially controllable assembly and in situ lysis of bacterial colonies using polymer-nucleoside triphosphate condensate droplets, and constructed the first method based on Eukaryotic cell mimicking prokaryotic cell based on prokaryotic cell
The primary cell inherits about 85% of the bioactive components in the live bacterial cells after in situ lysis, and exhibits living cell-like characteristics including gene expression, glycolysis, and enzyme catalysis.
This cell system includes a spatially partitioned DNA–histone nucleus-like condensate, membranized water vacuoles and a three-dimensional network of F-actin proto-cytoskeletal filaments.
Living material assembly of bacteriogenic protocells (Nature 2022 University of Bristol Stephen Mann)
Protocells: Artificial construction with functions similar to living cells
The researchers broke the traditional method of using non-living substances to construct artificial cells, developed a method for spatially controllable assembly and in situ lysis of bacterial colonies using polymer-nucleoside triphosphate condensate droplets, and constructed the first method based on Eukaryotic cell mimicking prokaryotic cell based on prokaryotic cell
The primary cell inherits about 85% of the bioactive components in the live bacterial cells after in situ lysis, and exhibits living cell-like characteristics including gene expression, glycolysis, and enzyme catalysis.
This cell system includes a spatially partitioned DNA–histone nucleus-like condensate, membranized water vacuoles and a three-dimensional network of F-actin proto-cytoskeletal filaments.
9/16
Combined alcohol and cannabinoid exposure leads to synergistic toxicity by affecting cerebellar Purkinje cells (Nature Metabolism 2022 中科大 Wei Xiong)
Combined use of cannabis and alcohol (Ethanol + Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)) results in greater psychoactive toxicity than either substance alone
This study reveals the neural mechanism by which alcohol and cannabinoids target the presynaptic cannabinoid receptor (CB1R) and extrasynaptic glycine receptor (esGlyR) in cerebellar Purkinje cells to synergistically lead to ataxia, and propose the development of targeted esGlyR's novel drug is used to alleviate this movement disorder, further accelerating the clinical treatment of alcohol and cannabis abuse.
Combined alcohol and cannabinoid exposure leads to synergistic toxicity by affecting cerebellar Purkinje cells (Nature Metabolism 2022 中科大 Wei Xiong)
Combined use of cannabis and alcohol (Ethanol + Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)) results in greater psychoactive toxicity than either substance alone
This study reveals the neural mechanism by which alcohol and cannabinoids target the presynaptic cannabinoid receptor (CB1R) and extrasynaptic glycine receptor (esGlyR) in cerebellar Purkinje cells to synergistically lead to ataxia, and propose the development of targeted esGlyR's novel drug is used to alleviate this movement disorder, further accelerating the clinical treatment of alcohol and cannabis abuse.
9/20
Pilot study of responsive nucleus accumbens deep brain stimulation for loss-of-control eating (Nature medicine 2022 Casey H. Halpern)
Binge eating disorder (BED) is one of the common eating disorders that can lead to obesity, reduced quality of life, and a shorter lifespan
The results of related animal models show that the electrophysiological activity of the nucleus accumbens is clearly associated with binge-eating-related behavior, and brief high-frequency electrical stimulation can significantly reduce binge-eating behavior in mice
Deep brain stimulation targeting the nucleus accumbens was found to improve food intake and body weight in 2 enrolled severely obese volunteers with binge eating disorder
Pilot study of responsive nucleus accumbens deep brain stimulation for loss-of-control eating (Nature medicine 2022 Casey H. Halpern)
Binge eating disorder (BED) is one of the common eating disorders that can lead to obesity, reduced quality of life, and a shorter lifespan
The results of related animal models show that the electrophysiological activity of the nucleus accumbens is clearly associated with binge-eating-related behavior, and brief high-frequency electrical stimulation can significantly reduce binge-eating behavior in mice
Deep brain stimulation targeting the nucleus accumbens was found to improve food intake and body weight in 2 enrolled severely obese volunteers with binge eating disorder