Impaired XK recycling for importing manganese underlies striatal vulnerability in Huntington's disease.

Mutant huntingtin, which causes Huntington's disease (HD), is ubiquitously expressed but induces preferential loss of striatal neurons by unclear mechanisms. Rab11 dysfunction mediates homeostatic disturbance of HD neurons. Here, we report that Rab11 dysfunction also underscores the striatal vulnerability in HD.

Trappc9 Deficiency Impairs the Plasticity of Stem Cells.

Genetic mutations of cause intellectual disability with the atrophy of brain structures and variable obesity by poorly understood mechanisms. Trappc9-deficient mice develop phenotypes resembling pathological changes in humans and appear overweight shortly after weaning, and thus are useful for studying the pathogenesis of obesity. Here, we investigated the effects of trappc9 deficiency on the proliferation and differentiation capacity of adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs).

CUMS and dexamethasone induce depression-like phenotypes in mice by differentially altering gut microbiota and triggering macroglia activation.

Background: Although the link between gut microbiota and depression has been suggested, changes of gut microbiota vary largely among individuals with depression.

Aims: Explore the heterogeneity of microbiota-gut-brain axis and new pathogenic characteristics in murine models of depression.

Methods: Adolescent female mice were randomly divided into control (CON) group (n=10), chronic unexpected mild stress (CUMS) group (n=15) and dexamethasone (DEX) group (n=15).

The XVP/ NAC003 protein associates with the plasma membrane through KR rich regions and translocates to the nucleus by changing phosphorylation status.

Membrane localized transcription factors play essential roles in various plant developmental processes. The XVP/NAC003 protein is a NAC domain transcription factor associated with the plasma membrane and involved in the TDIF-PXY signaling during vascular development. We report here the mechanisms of XVP membrane localization and its nuclear translocation.

Emerging roles of IL-34 in neurodegenerative and neurological infectious disease.

Neurological infections are often devastating in their clinical presentation. Although significant advances have made in neuroimaging techniques and molecular tools for diagnosis, as well as in anti-infective therapy, these diseases always difficult to diagnose and treat. Neuroparasitic infections and virus infections lead to neurological infections.

Parkinson's Disease Causative Mutation in Vps35 Disturbs Tetherin Trafficking to Cell Surfaces and Facilitates Virus Spread.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the most common neurodegenerative movement disorder, characterized by progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra, intraneuronal deposition of misfolded proteins known as Lewy bodies, and chronic neuroinflammation. PD can arise from monogenic mutations, but in most cases, the etiology is unclear. Viral infection is gaining increasing attentions as a trigger of PD.

Trappc9 deficiency in mice impairs learning and memory by causing imbalance of dopamine D1 and D2 neurons.

Genetic mutations in the gene encoding transport protein particle complex 9 (trappc9), a subunit of TRAPP that acts as a guanine nucleotide exchange factor for rab proteins, cause intellectual disability with brain structural malformations by elusive mechanisms. Here, we report that trappc9-deficient mice exhibit a broad range of behavioral deficits and postnatal delay in growth of the brain. Contrary to volume decline of various brain structures, the striatum of trappc9 null mice was enlarged.

An efficient protocol to enhance recombinant protein expression using ethanol in Escherichia coli.

Bacterial cells can be engineered to express non-native genes, resulting in the production of, recombinant proteins, which have various biotechnological and pharmaceutical applications. In eukaryotes, such as yeast or mammalian cells, which have large genomes, a higher recombinant protein expression can be troublesome. Comparatively, in the Escherichia coli (E.

An improved method for high-level soluble expression and purification of recombinant amyloid-beta peptide for in vitro studies.

Amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptide mediates several neurodegenerative diseases. The 42 amino acid (Aβ1-42) is the predominant form of peptide found in the neuritic plaques and has been demonstrated to be neurotoxic in vivo and in vitro. The availability of large quantities of Aβ peptide will help in several biochemical and biophysical studies that may help in exploring the aggregation mechanism and toxicity of Aβ peptide.

Characterization of a Highly pH Stable Chi-Class Glutathione S-Transferase from Synechocystis PCC 6803.

Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are multifunctional enzymes present in virtually all organisms. Besides having an essential role in cellular detoxification, they also perform various other functions, including responses in stress conditions and signaling. GSTs are highly studied in plants and animals; however, the knowledge regarding GSTs in cyanobacteria seems rudimentary.

Functional classification and biochemical characterization of a novel rho class glutathione S-transferase in Synechocystis PCC 6803.

We report a novel class of glutathione S-transferase (GST) from the model cyanobacterium Synechocystis PCC 6803 (sll1545) which catalyzes the detoxification of the water pollutant dichloroacetate and also shows strong glutathione-dependent peroxidase activity representing the classical activities of zeta and theta/alpha class respectively. Interestingly, sll1545 has very low sequence and structural similarity with these classes. This is the first report of dichloroacetate degradation activity by any bacterial GST.

Cloning, soluble expression, and purification of the RNA polymerase II subunit RPB5 from Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

We report the molecular cloning, expression, and single-step homogeneous purification of RNA polymerase II subunit RPB5 from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. RPB5 is a 210 amino acid nuclear protein that functions as the fifth largest subunit of polymerase II and plays a central role in transcription. The gene that codes for RPB5 was generated by amplification by polymerase chain reaction.

Recombinant expression, purification and preliminary characterization of the mRNA export factor MEX67 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The nuclear export of macromolecules is facilitated by the nuclear pore complexes (NPCs), embedded in the nuclear envelope and consists of multi-protein complexes. MEX67 is one of the nuclear export factor responsible for the transport of the majority of cellular mRNAs from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. The mechanism of mRNA transport through NPCs is unclear due to the unavailability of structures and the known interacting partners of MEX67.