Fullerenols Prevent Neuron Death and Reduce Oxidative Stress in Huntington's Disease Model.

Huntington's disease (HD) is one of the human neurodegenerative diseases for which there is no effective treatment. Therefore, there is a strong demand for a novel neuroprotective agent that can alleviate its course. Fullerene derivatives are considered to be such agents; however, they need to be comprehensively investigated in model organisms.

Reduction of the α-synuclein expression promotes slowing down early neuropathology development in the model of Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterised by the formation of Lewy bodies and progressive loss of dopaminergic (DA) neurons in the substantia nigra. Lewy bodies mainly consist of α-synuclein, which plays a critical role in the pathophysiology of PD. The α-synuclein is encoded by the gene and is the first identified gene associated with hereditary PD.

Lysophospholipase Gene Is Required for Survival and Reproduction.

is one of the most famous insects in biological research. It is widely used to analyse functions of different genes. The phosphatidylcholine lysophospholipase gene was initially shown to be important in the fruit fly nervous system.

Loss of in Neurons Contributes to Neurodegeneration with Mitochondria Abnormalities, Reactive Oxygen Species Acceleration and Accumulation of Lipid Droplets in Brain.

Various neurodegenerative disorders are associated with human NTE/PNPLA6 dysfunction. Mechanisms of neuropathogenesis in these diseases are far from clearly elucidated. Hereditary spastic paraplegia belongs to a type of neurodegeneration associated with NTE/PNLPLA6 and is implicated in neuron death.

Morpho-Functional Consequences of Knockdown in Glia of .

Glia are crucial for the normal development and functioning of the nervous system in many animals. Insects are widely used for studies of glia genetics and physiology. surface glia (perineurial and subperineurial) form a blood-brain barrier in the central nervous system and blood-nerve barrier in the peripheral nervous system.

Blood-Brain Barrier Penetrating Luminescent Conjugates Based on Cyclometalated Platinum(II) Complexes.

Herein we report on the synthesis, structural characterization and photophysical properties of cyclometalated Pt(II) complexes [Pt(N^C)(PPh(CHCOOH))Cl] (where N^C ligands are 2-phenylpyridine, (2-benzofuran-3-yl)pyridine, and (2-benzo[]tiophen-3-yl)pyridine) and their conjugates with the histidine-containing RRRRRRRRRRHVLPKVQA peptide. This peptide contains the RHVLPKVQA sequence, which is responsible for antiamyloid activity, and the Arg9 RRRRRRRRR domain, which shows improved translocation through cell membranes. The chemistry underpinning the conjugation is regioselective complexation between Pt(II) complexes and histidine residue in the peptide.

Human Gene Expression Alters Active Zone Distribution and Spontaneous Neurotransmitter Release at the Larval Neuromuscular Junction.

This study provides further insight into the molecular mechanisms that control neurotransmitter release. Experiments were performed on larval neuromuscular junctions of transgenic lines with different levels of human amyloid precursor protein (APP) production. To express human genes in motor neurons of , the UAS-GAL4 system was used.

Tissue-specific transcription of the neuronal gene Lim3 affects Drosophila melanogaster lifespan and locomotion.

The identity of neuronal cell types is established and maintained by the expression of neuronal genes coding for ion channels, neurotransmitters, and neuropeptides, among others. Some of these genes have been shown to affect lifespan; however, their role in lifespan control remains largely unclear. The Drosophila melanogaster gene Lim3 encodes a transcription factor involved in complicated motor neuron specification networks.