TOP STORIES

Gene Controlling Number of Brain Cells Pinpointed
A recent study suggests that a single gene, called GSK-3, controls the signals that determine how many neurons actually end up composing the brain. [University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill]

SCIENCE NEWS

Webinar: Feeder-independent growth of hESCs & hiPSCs using TeSR™2

Researchers Find a Key Mechanism in the Development of Nerve Cells
Recent research reveals a previously unknown mechanism with which a neurotrophin called BDNF forms individual nerve cells into a neural network. [University of Helsinki]

Protein Regulates Spinal Neuron Development
Current findings describe a mechanism by which proteins interact with each other to manipulate and regulate the cell differentiation process. [Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore]

Cholesterol Necessary for Brain Development
A derivative of cholesterol is necessary for the formation of brain cells, according to a recent study. [Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm]

Using Synthetic Evolution to Study the Brain: Researchers Model Key Part of Neurons
To understand how the brain processes information, researchers have used the process of evolution to model ion channels - a key part of neurons. [Northwestern University, Evanston]

What Makes the Same Type of Cells Different?
A research team has managed to decipher a well-known phenomenon of why cells of the same type can react differently and what the reason for this is. [ETH Zurich, Zurich]

CURRENT PUBLICATIONS

Identification of Functional Marker Proteins in the Mammalian Growth Cone
Identification of proteins in the mammalian growth cone has the potential to advance our understanding of this critical regulator of neuronal growth, and using a proteomic approach, the researchers have identified 945 proteins present in developing rat forebrain growth cones. [PNAS]

Melanin-concentrating Hormone Directly Inhibits GnRH Neurons and Blocks Kisspeptin Activation, Linking Energy Balance to Reproduction
Energy-consuming reproductive processes need to be aborted in the face of a negative energy balance, yet knowledge of the pathways mediating this link remains limited. [PNAS]

DISC1 Regulates New Neuron Development in the Adult Brain via Modulation of AKT-mTOR Signaling through KIAA1212
This study shows that DISC1 suppression in newborn neurons of the adult hippocampus leads to overactivated signaling of AKT, another schizophrenia susceptibility gene. [Neuron]

Stage-specific Role for Shh in Dopaminergic Differentiation of Human Embryonic Stem Cells Induced by Stromal Cells
In this manuscript, the researchers show that medium conditioned by the stromal cell line PA6 (PA6-CM) can induce dopaminergic differentiation in neural stem cells derived from human embryonic stem cells but not directly from hESCs. [Stem Cells Dev]

Dehydroepiandrosterone Stimulates Neurogenesis in Mouse Embryonal Carcinoma Cell- and Human Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Neural Progenitors and Induces Dopaminergic Neurons
To evaluate the effect of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) as a neurosteroid on the rate of neurogenesis, neural survival and proliferation of pluripotent stem cell-derived neurons, the researchers have added DHEA to mouse P19 embryonal carcinoma cell- and human embryonic stem cell-derived neural progenitors. [Stem Cells Dev]

LGI1-associated Epilepsy Through Altered ADAM23-dependent Neuronal Morphology
Here, the researchers searched for brain genes supporting high affinity LGI-1 binding, a gene responsible for autosomal dominant partial epilepsy with auditory features. [Mol Cell Neurosci]

Genetic Manipulation of Neural Progenitors Derived from Human Embryonic Stem Cells
The research here reports the production of the first genetically modified self-renewing human embryonic stem cell-derived neural progenitor cells that express fluorescent proteins under constitutive as well as lineage-specific promoters, enabling tracking and monitoring of cell fate. [Tissue Eng Part A]

INDUSTRY NEWS

STEMCELL Technologies Inc. Introduces MethoCult(R) Express for Cord Blood Banks and Transplant Centers
STEMCELL Technologies Inc., announces the launch of MethoCult(R) Express, an innovative methylcellulose-based medium specifically formulated to allow enumeration of total colony-forming cells after only 7 days of culture. With this new medium, reliable information on hematopoietic progenitor cell numbers in cord blood can be obtained much earlier than with standard 14-day assays.

STEMCELL Technologies Inc. Announces Direct Distribution to Spain
STEMCELL Technologies Inc., a leader in specialty cell culture media, cell separation products and ancillary reagents for life science research, is pleased to announce that they are now selling directly to customers in Spain.

USC Neuroscientists Awarded $9 Million to Map Gene Expression During Human Brain Development
Two University of Southern Californian neuroscientists have been awarded nearly $9 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds to map how genes are expressed in different regions of the human brain throughout development.

POLICY NEWS

Maryland Stem Cell Commission Issues Requests for Applications
The grants to be awarded under these two RFAs will fund basic and translational research with human stem cells of all types, as defined in the Stem Cell Act.

Obama Announces $5 Billion for New Medical Research
President Barack Obama announced a plan on Wednesday to spend $5 billion on medical and scientific research, medical supplies and upgrading laboratory capacity, which he said would create tens of thousands of new jobs.

FDA Issues Strategic Plan for Risk Communication
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently issued its Strategic Plan for Risk Communication, which outlines the agency's efforts to disseminate more meaningful public health information.

EVENTS

Neuropeptides
October 14-16, 2009
Chicago, United States

Neuroscience 2009
October 17-21, 2009
Chicago, United States
Visit STEMCELL Technologies at Booth 816 at Neuroscience 2009.

Restoration of Neural Tissue and Function Workshop
Novemer 4, 2009
Washington DC, United States

The Biology and Pathology of Tau and its Role in Tauopathies
7-8 January, 2010
Cambridge, United Kingdom

Alzheimer's Disease Beyond Abeta
January 10-15, 2010
Copper Mountain, United States

Molecular Medicine Tri-Conference 2010
February 3-5, 2010
San Francisco, United States

Keystone Symposium B4 Stem Cell Differentiation and Dedifferentiation
February 15 - 20, 2010
Keystone, United States

ISSCR 8th Annual Meeting
June 16-19, 2010
San Francisco, United States

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