It is now established that numerous amyloid proteins associated with neurodegenerative diseases, including tau and α-synuclein, have essential characteristics of prions, including the ability to create transmissible cellular pathology in vivo. We have developed cellular bioassays that report on the various features of prion activity using genetic engineering and quantitative fluorescence-based detection systems. We have exploited these biosensors to measure the binding and uptake of tau seeds into cells in culture and to quantify seeding activity in brain samples. These cell models have also been used to propagate tau prion strains indefinitely in culture. In this review, we illustrate the utility of cellular biosensors to gain mechanistic insight into prion transmission and to study neurodegenerative diseases in a reductionist fashion.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1101/cshperspect.a024026 | DOI Listing |
Adv Mater
January 2025
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Program of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
Changes in the density and organization of fibrous biological tissues often accompany the progression of serious diseases ranging from fibrosis to neurodegenerative diseases, heart disease and cancer. However, challenges in cost, complexity, or precision faced by existing imaging methodologies and materials pose barriers to elucidating the role of tissue microstructure in disease. Here, we leverage the intrinsic optical anisotropy of the Morpho butterfly wing and introduce Morpho-Enhanced Polarized Light Microscopy (MorE-PoL), a stain- and contact-free imaging platform that enhances and quantifies the birefringent material properties of fibrous biological tissues.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAnal Methods
January 2025
Department of Chemistry, School of Physical and Mathematical Science, Research Centre, University of Kerala, Kariavattom Campus, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, 695581, India.
The neuronal tau peptide serves as a key biomarker for neurodegenerative diseases, specifically, Alzheimer's disease, a condition that currently has no cure or definitive diagnosis. The methodology to noninvasively detect tau levels from body fluids remains a major hurdle for a rapid and simple diagnostic approach. Thus, developing new detection methods for sensing tau protein levels is crucial.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFToxicol Rep
June 2025
Era College of Pharmacy, Era University, Sarfarajgung, Lucknow-Hardoi Road, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Copper (Cu) dysregulation, often stemming from ATP7B gene mutations, exacerbates neurological disorders like Huntington's, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's diseases. Monoisoamyl 2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid (MiADMSA) shows promise in mitigating Cu induced neurotoxicity by chelating intracellular Cu ions, reducing oxidative stress, and restoring antioxidant enzyme function. However, challenges such as poor bioavailability hinder its therapeutic efficacy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFACS Med Chem Lett
January 2025
Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, R. C. Patel Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Shirpur, Maharashtra 425405, India.
Linezolid, a widely used oxazolidinone antibiotic, exhibits potent activity against resistant bacterial infections but is associated with serotonergic toxicity, primarily due to its inhibition of monoamine oxidase (MAO). MAOs, consisting of MAO-A and MAO-B isoforms, play crucial roles in neurotransmitter metabolism, with implications for neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases. This study aims to optimize Linezolid's structure to transform it into a selective MAO-B inhibitor.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Undergrad Neurosci Educ
December 2024
Department of Psychology, Neuroscience Program, University of Nebraska Omaha, Omaha, NE 68182-0001, USA.
Supplementing textbooks with primary literature in teaching neuroscience is a growing practice associated with several positive outcomes, such as increased content knowledge, research and data skills, and critical thinking. This pedagogical approach, however, still needs further development to make it accessible to instructors and valuable to students. This article describes a series of published articles we used in an undergraduate neuroimmunology course.
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