TOP STORIES

Duke Team Finds Compounds that Prevent Nerve Damage
Compounds that block the activity of a specific enzyme were shown to prevent brain injury and greatly improved survival in fruit flies that had the same disease process found in Huntington's disease.

SPECIAL FEATURE

VIDEO: Neuronal Nuclei Isolation from Human Postmortem Brain Tissue
Here, the researchers provide a protocol to extract and purify nuclei from frozen (never fixed) human postmortem brain.

SCIENCE

Mapping the Neuron-Behavior Link in Rett Syndrome
A link between certain behaviors and the lack of the protein associated with Rett Syndrome, demonstrates the importance of MeCP2 and reveals never-before recognized functions associated with aggression and obesity.

ABSTRACTS

From Synapse to Nucleus: Calcium-Dependent Gene Transcription in the Control of Synapse Development and Function
This study reviews how neuronal activity triggers calcium-dependent gene expression to regulate synapse development, maturation, and refinement.

Calmodulin-Kinases: Modulators of Neuronal Development and Plasticity
This review summarizes key neuronal functions of the CaMK cascade in signal transduction, gene transcription, synaptic development and plasticity, and behavior.

Analysis of ERK2 Function in Neural Stem/Progenitor Cells Via Nervous System-Specific Gene Disruption
The researcher's results suggest that ERK2 is required both for the proliferation of neural stem cells in the VZ during embryonic development and in the maintenance of NPC multipotency by suppressing the commitment of these cells to a glial lineage.

A Sox1 to Pax6 Switch Drives Neuroectoderm to Radial Glia Progression During Differentiation of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells
This study concludes that Sox1 enhances neuroectodermal commitment and maintenance but blocks further differentiation. In contrast, Pax6 is involved in the progression of neuroectoderm towards radial glia.

Functional Gait Evaluation of Collagen Chitosan Nerve Guides for Sciatic Nerve Repair
From this study, the researchers conclude that collagen-blended chitosan nerve guides enhanced motor and sensory nerve recovery assayed through gait and behavioral testing compared to unblended nerve guides.

Reconstruction of Functional Cortical-like Tissues from Neural Stem and Progenitor Cells
The researcher's engineered functional tissue constructs were shown to have a potential use as tissue surrogates for drug screening and detection of environmental toxins, and in neural cell replacement therapy.

INDUSTRY

Patent Wars Hit Life Sciences, Says Study
The drive to accumulate and defend patents is stifling innovation, particularly in biotechnology and healthcare, according to a Canadian-led international study.

CIRM Approves Program for Providing Loans to California Institutions
At a regular meeting of the Independent Citizens' Oversight Committee, the members voted to accept a policy for loaning money to for-profit and not-for-profit organizations.

WiCell Research Institute Launches New Stem Cell Bank
The WiCell Research Institute is launching its own stem cell bank to distribute cell lines beyond the 21 lines eligible for federal funding and distribution through the National Stem Cell Bank.

Celprogen Introduces Stem Cells in Syringes for In Vivo Applications
Celprogen Inc. recently announced that they have successfully validated shipment of embryonic and adult stem cells at room temperature within United States research facilities for in vivo applications.

What to Do with Leftover Embryos in Fertility Clinics?
The majority of infertility patients are in favor of using left-over embryos for stem cell research and would also support selling left-over embryos to other couples, according to a recent survey.

CIRM Approves Program for Providing Loans to California Institutions
At a regular meeting of the Independent Citizens' Oversight Committee, the members voted to accept a policy for loaning money to for-profit and not-for-profit organizations.

POLICY

Nobel Laureates Line Up Behind Obama's Science Policy
Barack Obama's campaign recently laid out a detailed science policy, endorsed by 61 Nobel laureates.