Aggregator
Sensor protein explains how mice—and maybe people—know it’s cold
Previously identified in worms, a protein on nerve cells helps mammals sense temperatures down to 0°C
NASA’s Mars rover probes ancient shorelines for signs of life
Plans for Perseverance to explore past crater rim may be in jeopardy
Should doctors screen all kids for type 1 diabetes?
Early studies suggest antibody testing can prevent complications and delay disease, but some worry about psychological toll
‘Smart’ fiber-optic cables on the sea floor will detect earthquakes, tsunamis, and global warming
Scientists’ push to add sensors to cables pays off in Atlantic and Pacific oceans
Comprehensive transcriptome analysis reveals altered mRNA splicing and post-transcriptional changes in the aged mouse brain
A comprehensive understanding of molecular changes during brain aging is essential to mitigate cognitive decline and delay neurodegenerative diseases. The interpretation of mRNA alterations during brain aging is influenced by the health and age of the animal cohorts studied. Here, we carefully consider these factors and provide an in-depth investigation of mRNA splicing and dynamics in the aging mouse brain, combining short- and long-read sequencing technologies with extensive bioinformatic...
Neural attentional filters and behavioural outcome follow independent individual trajectories over the adult lifespan
Preserved communication abilities promote healthy ageing. To this end, the age-typical loss of sensory acuity might in part be compensated for by an individual's preserved attentional neural filtering. Is such a compensatory brain-behaviour link longitudinally stable? Can it predict individual change in listening behaviour? We here show that individual listening behaviour and neural filtering ability follow largely independent developmental trajectories modelling electroencephalographic and...
Aging from adipose accumulation of antibodies
IgG accumulation in white adipose tissue contributes to aging-associated metabolic dysfunction.
Genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9 screen shows that loss of GET4 increases mitochondria-endoplasmic reticulum contact sites and is neuroprotective
Organelles form membrane contact sites between each other, allowing for the transfer of molecules and signals. Mitochondria-endoplasmic reticulum (ER) contact sites (MERCS) are cellular subdomains characterized by close apposition of mitochondria and ER membranes. They have been implicated in many diseases, including neurodegenerative, metabolic, and cardiac diseases. Although MERCS have been extensively studied, much remains to be explored. To uncover novel regulators of MERCS, we conducted a...
PCDHA9 as a candidate gene for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease. To identify additional genetic factors, we analyzed exome sequences in a large cohort of Chinese ALS patients and found a homozygous variant (p.L700P) in PCDHA9 in three unrelated patients. We generated Pcdhα9 mutant mice harboring either orthologous point mutation or deletion mutation. These mice develop progressive spinal motor loss, muscle atrophy, and structural/functional abnormalities of the neuromuscular...
Ageing impairs the regenerative capacity of regulatory T cells in mouse central nervous system remyelination
Myelin regeneration (remyelination) is essential to prevent neurodegeneration in demyelinating diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis, however, its efficiency declines with age. Regulatory T cells (Treg) recently emerged as critical players in tissue regeneration, including remyelination. However, the effect of ageing on Treg-mediated regenerative processes is poorly understood. Here, we show that expansion of aged Treg does not rescue age-associated remyelination impairment due to an intrinsically...
Genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9 screen shows that loss of GET4 increases mitochondria-endoplasmic reticulum contact sites and is neuroprotective
Organelles form membrane contact sites between each other, allowing for the transfer of molecules and signals. Mitochondria-endoplasmic reticulum (ER) contact sites (MERCS) are cellular subdomains characterized by close apposition of mitochondria and ER membranes. They have been implicated in many diseases, including neurodegenerative, metabolic, and cardiac diseases. Although MERCS have been extensively studied, much remains to be explored. To uncover novel regulators of MERCS, we conducted a...
YTHDF2 governs muscle size through a targeted modulation of proteostasis
The regulation of proteostasis is fundamental for maintenance of muscle mass and function. Activation of the TGF-β pathway drives wasting and premature aging by favoring the proteasomal degradation of structural muscle proteins. Yet, how this critical post-translational mechanism is kept in check to preserve muscle health remains unclear. Here, we reveal the molecular link between the post-transcriptional regulation of m⁶A-modified mRNA and the modulation of SMAD-dependent TGF-β signaling. We...
A solid beta-sheet structure is formed at the surface of FUS droplets during aging
Phase transitions are important to understand cell dynamics, and the maturation of liquid droplets is relevant to neurodegenerative disorders. We combined NMR and Raman spectroscopies with microscopy to follow, over a period of days to months, droplet maturation of the protein fused in sarcoma (FUS). Our study reveals that the surface of the droplets plays a critical role in this process, while RNA binding prevents it. The maturation kinetics are faster in an agarose-stabilized biphasic sample...