Generating neural diversity through spatial and temporal patterning.

The nervous system consists of a vast diversity of neurons and glia that are accurately assembled into functional circuits. What are the mechanisms that generate these diverse cell types? During development, an epithelial sheet with neurogenic potential is initially regionalised into spatially restricted domains of gene expression. From this, pools of neural stem cells (NSCs) with distinct molecular profiles and the potential to generate different neuron types, are specified.

A question of lineage.

In the ventral nerve cord of fruit flies, neurons from the same hemilineage use the same neurotransmitter.

Neuroblast-specific open chromatin allows the temporal transcription factor, Hunchback, to bind neuroblast-specific loci.

Spatial and temporal cues are required to specify neuronal diversity, but how these cues are integrated in neural progenitors remains unknown. progenitors (neuroblasts) are a good model: they are individually identifiable with relevant spatial and temporal transcription factors known. Here we test whether spatial/temporal factors act independently or sequentially in neuroblasts.

Molecular characterization of two novel proteins All1122 and Alr0750 of Anabaena PCC 7120 conferring tolerance to multiple abiotic stresses in Escherichia coli.

In- silico and functional genomics approaches have been used to determine cellular functions of two hypothetical proteins All1122 and Alr0750 of Anabaena sp. PCC 7120. Motif analysis and multiple sequence alignment predicted them as typical α/β ATP binding universal stress family protein-A (UspA) with G-(2×)-G-(9×)-G(S/T) as conserved motif.

An Emerging System to Study Photosymbiosis, Brain Regeneration, Chronobiology, and Behavior: The Marine Acoel Symsagittifera roscoffensis.

The acoel worm Symsagittifera roscoffensis, an early offshoot of the Bilateria and the only well-studied marine acoel that lives in a photosymbiotic relationship, exhibits a centralized nervous system, brain regeneration, and a wide repertoire of complex behaviors such as circatidal rhythmicity, photo/geotaxis, and social interactions. While this animal can be collected by the thousands and is studied historically, significant progress is made over the last decade to develop it as an emerging marine model. The authors here present the feasibility of culturing it in the laboratory and describe the progress made on different areas, including genomic and tissue architectures, highlighting the associated challenges.

Identification and functional characterization of four novel aldo/keto reductases in Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 by integrating wet lab with in silico approaches.

Aldo/keto reductases (AKRs) constitute a multitasking protein family that catalyzes diverse metabolic transformations including detoxification of stress generated reactive aldehydes. Yet this important protein family is poorly understood particularly in cyanobacteria, the ecologically most diverse and significant group of micro-organisms. Present study is an attempt to characterize all putative AKRs of Anabaena sp.

A Novel Aldo-Keto Reductase (AKR17A1) of Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 Degrades the Rice Field Herbicide Butachlor and Confers Tolerance to Abiotic Stresses in E. coli.

Present study deals with the identification of a novel aldo/keto reductase, AKR17A1 from Anabaena sp. PCC7120 and adds on as 17th family of AKR superfamily drawn from a wide variety of organisms. AKR17A1 shares many characteristics of a typical AKR such as- (i) conferring tolerance to multiple stresses like heat, UV-B, and cadmium, (ii) excellent activity towards known AKR substrates (isatin and 2-nitrobenzaldehyde), and (iii) obligate dependence on NADPH as a cofactor for enzyme activity.

Exploring the membrane proteome of the diazotropic cyanobacterium Anabaena PCC7120 through gel-based proteomics and in silico approaches.

Unlabelled: This paper focuses on the gel-based membrane proteomics from diazotrophic cyanobacterium Anabaena PCC7120 by modifying the protocol of Hall et al. [1]. The bioinformatic analysis revealed that 59 (29 integral, 30 peripheral) of the 67 proteins identified were membrane proteins.

Genetic transformation of structural and functional circuitry rewires the Drosophila brain.

Acquisition of distinct neuronal identities during development is critical for the assembly of diverse functional neural circuits in the brain. In both vertebrates and invertebrates, intrinsic determinants are thought to act in neural progenitors to specify their identity and the identity of their neuronal progeny. However, the extent to which individual factors can contribute to this is poorly understood.

Orthodenticle is required for the development of olfactory projection neurons and local interneurons in Drosophila.

The accurate wiring of nervous systems involves precise control over cellular processes like cell division, cell fate specification, and targeting of neurons. The nervous system of Drosophila melanogaster is an excellent model to understand these processes. Drosophila neurons are generated by stem cell like precursors called neuroblasts that are formed and specified in a highly stereotypical manner along the neuroectoderm.

Comparative proteomics reveals association of early accumulated proteins in conferring butachlor tolerance in three N(2)-fixing Anabaena spp.

Unlabelled: Butachlor an extensively used rice field herbicide negatively affects the cyanobacterial proliferation, yet the molecular mechanism underlying its toxicity in diazotrophic cyanobacteria is largely unknown. The present study focuses on the comparative proteomics to decode the molecular basis of butachlor toxicity/tolerance in three Anabaena species e.g.

Conserved roles of ems/Emx and otd/Otx genes in olfactory and visual system development in Drosophila and mouse.

The regional specialization of brain function has been well documented in the mouse and fruitfly. The expression of regulatory factors in specific regions of the brain during development suggests that they function to establish or maintain this specialization. Here, we focus on two such factors-the Drosophila cephalic gap genes empty spiracles (ems) and orthodenticle (otd), and their vertebrate homologues Emx1/2 and Otx1/2-and review novel insight into their multiple crucial roles in the formation of complex sensory systems.

Expression and function of the empty spiracles gene in olfactory sense organ development of Drosophila melanogaster.

In Drosophila, the cephalic gap gene empty spiracles plays key roles in embryonic patterning of the peripheral and central nervous system. During postembryonic development, it is involved in the development of central olfactory circuitry in the antennal lobe of the adult. However, its possible role in the postembryonic development of peripheral olfactory sense organs has not been investigated.

Drosophila olfactory local interneurons and projection neurons derive from a common neuroblast lineage specified by the empty spiracles gene.

Background: Encoding of olfactory information in insects occurs in the antennal lobe where the olfactory receptor neurons interact with projection neurons and local interneurons in a complex sensory processing circuitry. While several studies have addressed the developmental mechanisms involved in specification and connectivity of olfactory receptor neurons and projection neurons in Drosophila, the local interneurons are far less well understood.

Results: In this study, we use genetic marking techniques combined with antibody labelling and neuroblast ablation to analyse lineage specific aspects of local interneuron development.

Ferrimagnetic nanogranular Co3O4 through solvothermal decomposition of colloidally dispersed monolayers of alpha-cobalt hydroxide.

Co3O4 nanoparticles of 35 nm with a cauliflower-like morphology were obtained when a monolayer colloidal dispersion of dodecyl sulfate intercalated alpha-cobalt hydroxide in butanol was subjected to solvothermal hydrolytic decomposition. The nanogranular particles exhibit weakly ferromagnetic properties in contrast with both bulk and dispersed nanoparticulate Co3O4.