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New mouse line reveals the state of proteostasis in mammalian brain for the first time

Proteins are the "tools" of our cells – they are essential to all vital tasks. However, they are only able to do their jobs if they fold correctly and adopt their respective, very specific 3D structure.

20 Aug 2021

New research identifies a master timekeeper for the brain's circadian clock

A gene called Npas4, already known to play a key role in balancing excitatory and inhibitory inputs in brain cells, appears to also be a master timekeeper for the brain's circadian clock, new research led by UT Southwestern scientists suggests.

20 Aug 2021

Scientists develop new tool to identify neuronal proteins in animal models

Scientists, for the first time, developed a successful method for pinpointing proteins within different kinds of neurons in the brain of a living animal.

16 Aug 2021

Study reveals how 3D space is represented in the mammalian cortex by the brain's 'GPS'

In a new study published in Nature today, Weizmann Institute of Science researchers, in collaboration with colleagues from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, unveiled for the first time how three-dimensional space is represented in the mammalian cortex by the brain's "GPS" system.

13 Aug 2021

Study analyzes the neuronal mechanism of fruit flies in decision making

According to scientists, people tend to prioritize food over sex after being deprived of both. The researchers examined this behavioral conflict in fruit flies.

10 Aug 2021

Restoring cholesterol levels could be a new therapeutic approach for neurodegenerative diseases

Scientists have found that the brain lacks the ability to maintain the cholesterol-rich myelin sheath that insulates neurons when a protein is absent.

From National University of Singapore (NUS) 10 Aug 2021

Study discovers link between corticosteroid receptors and hippocampal neuroplasticity, ciliary genes

Chronic stress is a well-known cause for mental health disorders. New research has moved a step forward in understanding how glucocorticoid hormones ('stress hormones') act upon the brain and what their function is.

9 Aug 2021

Cytokines play a role in regulation of beige fat

An immune signal promotes the production of energy-burning "beige fat," according to a new study publishing August 5th in the open-access journal PLOS Biology by Zhonghan Yang of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China, and colleagues.

6 Aug 2021

Light, Scintillator, Action! X-rays can Control Neuron Function and Behavior

A group of scientists revealed a novel X-ray technique that allows control of neural function deep in the brain without causing any damage.

29 Jul 2021

Study identifies the role of lysosomes in the spread of Parkinson’s disease

In the past few decades, neurodegenerative diseases have turned into one of the top 10 worldwide causes of death.

26 Jul 2021

Study shows astrocytes induce sex differences during brain development

Scientists have found that when brain cells develop, they may find various ways to link with each other based on sex.

21 Jul 2021

Gene therapy may be safe and effective in treating AADC deficiency

A new study published in Nature Communications suggests that gene therapy delivered into the brain may be safe and effective in treating aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) deficiency.

19 Jul 2021

Study discloses neuroprotective properties of aromatic turmerone and its derivatives

Scientists discovered that aromatic turmerone and its derivatives have a direct effect on the dopaminergic nerves.

16 Jul 2021

Study reveals neurotransmitter releases impairments in schizophrenia patients

A research team revealed that neurotransmitter release in the brain is impaired in patients with schizophrenia who possess a rare, single-gene mutation.

16 Jul 2021

Brainless slime mold uses its body to sense mechanical cues in the environment

If you didn't have a brain, could you still figure out where you were and navigate your surroundings? Thanks to new research on slime molds, the answer may be "yes."

15 Jul 2021

Children with rare genetic disorder experience dramatic improvements in a gene therapy trial

Children with a devastating genetic disorder characterized by severe motor disability and developmental delay have experienced sometimes dramatic improvements in a gene therapy trial launched at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals.

13 Jul 2021

Study reveals the relationship between gut microbiome and neurodegenerative disorders

Eran Blacher bagged the NOSTER & Science Microbiome Prize 2021 for his work in highlighting the relationship between the microbiome and neurodegenerative diseases.

12 Jul 2021

Making memories necessitates a lot of DNA breakage

The urgency to remember a dangerous experience requires the brain to make a series of potentially dangerous moves: Neurons and other brain cells snap open their DNA in numerous locations--more than previously realized, according to a new study--to provide quick access to genetic instructions for the mechanisms of memory storage.

7 Jul 2021

Specific chemical feature of a key protein may lead to neurodegenerative diseases

Scientists have found that a particular chemical feature of a crucial protein may cause it to build up in the brain and lead to various disorders.

28 Jun 2021

Scientists reveal key role of glial protein in building the brain

When we think of the brain, we think of neurons. But much of the brain is made of non-neuronal cells called glial cells, which help regulate brain development and function.

25 Jun 2021