Mechanism of sensory perception unveiled by simultaneous measurement of membrane voltage and intracellular calcium.

Measuring neuronal activity is important for understanding neuronal function. Ca imaging by genetically encoded calcium indicators (GECIs) is a powerful way to measure neuronal activity. Although it revealed important aspects of neuronal function, measuring the neuronal membrane voltage is important to understand neuronal function as it triggers neuronal activation.

Regulation of Diacylglycerol Content in Olfactory Neurons Determines Forgetting or Retrieval of Olfactory Memory in .

Proper management of memories by forgetting and retrieval is essential for animals to adapt their behavior to changing environments. To elucidate the mechanisms underlying forgetting, we use olfactory learning to an attractive odorant, diacetyl, in hermaphrodites as a model. In this learning paradigm, the TIR-1/JNK-1 pathway in AWC sensory neurons accelerates forgetting of the olfactory memory, which is stored as a sensory memory trace in AWA sensory neurons.

Green fluorescent protein-based lactate and pyruvate indicators suitable for biochemical assays and live cell imaging.

Glycolysis is the metabolic pathway that converts glucose into pyruvate, whereas fermentation can then produce lactate from pyruvate. Here, we developed single fluorescent protein (FP)-based lactate and pyruvate indicators with low EC for trace detection of metabolic molecules and live cell imaging and named them "Green Lindoblum" and "Green Pegassos," respectively. Green Lindoblum (EC of 30 µM for lactate) and Green Pegassos (EC of 70 µM for pyruvate) produced a 5.

Steady and temporary expressions of smooth muscle actin in hair, vibrissa, arrector pili muscle, and other hair appendages of developing rats.

The hair erection muscle, arrector pili, is a kind of smooth muscle located in the mammalian dermis. The immunohistochemical study using an antibody against smooth muscle alpha actin (SMA) showed that the arrector pili muscle develops approximately 1-2 weeks after birth in dorsal and ventral skin, but thereafter they degenerate. The arrector pili muscle was not detected in the mystacial pad during any stage of development, even in the neighboring pelage-type hair follicle.