missense-perturbation of regulatory element footprints disrupts serotonergic forebrain axon arborization.

Pathogenic coding mutations are prevalent in human neuronal transcription factors (TFs) but how they disrupt development is poorly understood. Lmx1b is a master transcriptional regulator of postmitotic neurons that give rise to mature serotonin (5-HT) neurons; over two hundred pathogenic heterozygous mutations have been discovered in human yet their impact on brain development has not been investigated. Here, we developed mouse models with different DNA-binding missense mutations.

Reorganization of postmitotic neuronal chromatin accessibility for maturation of serotonergic identity.

Assembly of transcriptomes encoding unique neuronal identities requires selective accessibility of transcription factors to cis-regulatory sequences in nucleosome-embedded postmitotic chromatin. Yet, the mechanisms controlling postmitotic neuronal chromatin accessibility are poorly understood. Here, we show that unique distal enhancers define the neuron lineage that generates serotonin (5-HT) neurons in mice.

An adult-stage transcriptional program for survival of serotonergic connectivity.

Neurons must function for decades of life, but how these non-dividing cells are preserved is poorly understood. Using mouse serotonin (5-HT) neurons as a model, we report an adult-stage transcriptional program specialized to ensure the preservation of neuronal connectivity. We uncover a switch in Lmx1b and Pet1 transcription factor function from controlling embryonic axonal growth to sustaining a transcriptomic signature of 5-HT connectivity comprising functionally diverse synaptic and axonal genes.

Anthraquinone-containing compound in rhubarb prevents indole production via functional changes in gut microbiota.

Indole is produced from dietary tryptophan by tryptophanase in intestinal bacteria, such as Escherichia coli. In the liver, indole is converted into indoxyl sulfate, a uremic toxin and risk factor for chronic kidney disease (CKD). Probiotics and prebiotics are currently used for suppressing CKD, but there are no drugs that directly suppress indole production.

How Training Tools Physically Linking Soccer Players Improve Interpersonal Coordination.

Interpersonal coordination is an important skill for promoting collective behavior in team sports. This study tested the impact of two types of tools in facilitating triadic coordination. 16 males aged under 12 years were divided into four groups with similar skill levels and average ages.