Single vesicle tracking for studying synaptic vesicle dynamics in small central synapses

Sustained neurotransmission is driven by a continuous supply of synaptic vesicles to the release sites and modulated by synaptic vesicle dynamics. However, synaptic vesicle dynamics in synapses remain elusive because of technical limitations. Recent advances in fluorescence imaging techniques have enabled the tracking of single synaptic vesicles in small central synapses in living neurons. Single vesicle tracking has uncovered a wealth of new information about synaptic vesicle dynamics both within and outside presynaptic terminals, showing that single vesicle tracking is an effective tool for studying synaptic vesicle dynamics. Particularly, single vesicle tracking with high spatiotemporal resolution has revealed the dependence of synaptic vesicle dynamics on the location, stages of recycling, and neuronal activity. This review summarizes the recent findings from single synaptic vesicle tracking in small central synapses and their implications in synaptic transmission and pathogenic mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases.     

Junctional adhesion molecule C (JAM-C) dimerization aids cancer cell migration and metastasis

Most cancer deaths result from metastasis, which is the dissemination of cells from a primary tumor to distant organs. Metastasis involves changes to molecules that are essential for tumor cell adhesion to the extracellular matrix and to endothelial cells. Junctional Adhesion Molecule C (JAM-C) localizes at intercellular junctions as homodimers or more affine heterodimers with JAM-B. We previously showed that the homodimerization site (E66) in JAM-C is also involved in JAM-B binding. Here we show that neoexpression of JAM-C in a JAM-C-negative carcinoma cell line induced loss of adhesive property and pro-metastatic capacities. We also identify two critical structural sites (E66 and K68) for JAM-C/JAM-B interaction by directed mutagenesis of JAM-C and studied their implication on tumor cell behavior. JAM-C mutants did not bind to JAM-B or localize correctly to junctions. Moreover, mutated JAM-C proteins increased adhesion and reduced proliferation and migration of lung carcinoma cell lines. Carcinoma cells expressing mutant JAM-C grew slower than with JAM-C WT and were not able to establish metastatic lung nodules in mice. Overall these data demonstrate that the dimerization sites E66-K68 of JAM-C affected cell adhesion, polarization and migration and are essential for tumor cell metastasis.     

Synaptosomal cytoskeleton visualized by whole mount electron microscopy

Organization of synaptosomal cytoskeleton was reproducibly visualized by the technique of whole mount electron microscopy. Synaptosomes from rat cerebrums were immobilized on the formvar membrane of the electron microscopic grid, partly solubilized by detergents of various kinds, and treated with chemicals to reveal cytoskeletons and their characteristics. Synaptosomal cytoskeletons consisted of three types: (1) pre-synaptic fiber network structure whose composite fiber was 15–20 nm in diameter and formed 60–100 nm circular rings. The rings had small particles inside and were organized into three-dimensional networks. The pre-synaptic network was different from the Triton-unextractable structure of mitochondria. (2) Post-synaptic fiber aggregate was constructed of 10-nm filaments that were typically visualized as deoxycholate- or N-lauroyl sarcosinate-unextractable cytoskeletons. The aggregate was a major structure in the Triton-unextractable cytoskeleton of synaptic plasma membrane (more than 95%). (3) Fiber connecting individual clusters of synaptosomal cytoskeletons which was probably an artifactual product formed during and after synaptosomal isolation. Existence of actin was indicated both in pre- and post-synaptic cytoplasm.     

The SH3 domain of postsynaptic density 95 mediates inflammatory pain through phosphatidylinositol‐3‐kinase recruitment

Sensitization to inflammatory pain is a pathological form of neuronal plasticity that is poorly understood and treated. Here we examine the role of the SH3 domain of postsynaptic density 95 (PSD95) by using mice that carry a single amino‐acid substitution in the polyproline‐binding site. Testing multiple forms of plasticity we found sensitization to inflammation was specifically attenuated. The inflammatory response required recruitment of phosphatidylinositol‐3‐kinase‐C2α to the SH3‐binding site of PSD95. In wild‐type mice, wortmannin or peptide competition attenuated the sensitization. These results show that different types of behavioural plasticity are mediated by specific domains of PSD95 and suggest novel therapeutic avenues for reducing inflammatory pain.     

Loss of tight junction barrier function and its role in cancer metastasis

As the most apical structure between epithelial and endothelial cells, tight junctions (TJ) are well known as functioning as a control for the paracellular diffusion of ions and certain molecules. It has however, become increasingly apparent that the TJ has a vital role in maintaining cell to cell integrity and that the loss of cohesion of the structure can lead to invasion and thus metastasis of cancer cells. This article will present data showing how modulation of expression of TJ molecules results in key changes in TJ barrier function leading to the successful metastasis of a number of different cancer types.     

Deep analysis of perception through dynamic structures that emerge in cortical activity from self-regulated noise

The statistical properties of the spontaneous background electrocorticogram (ECoG) were modeled, starting with random numbers, constraining the distributions, and identifying characteristic deviations from randomness in ECoG from subjects at rest and during intentional behaviors. The ECoG had been recorded through 8 × 8 arrays of 64 electrodes, from the surfaces of auditory, visual, or somatic cortices of 9 rabbits, and from the inferotemporal cortex of a human subject. Power spectral densities (PSD) in coordinates of log₁₀ power versus log₁₀ frequency of ECoG from subjects at rest usually conformed to noise in power-law distributions in a continuum. PSD of ECoG from active subjects usually deviated from noise in having peaks in log₁₀ power above the power-law line in various frequency bands. The analytic signals from the Hilbert transform after band pass filtering in the beta and gamma ranges revealed beats from interference among distributed frequencies in band pass filtered noise called Rayleigh noise. The beats were displayed as repetitive down spikes in log₁₀ analytic power. Repetition rates were proportional to filter bandwidths for all center frequencies. Resting ECoG often gave histograms of the magnitudes and intervals of down spikes that conformed to noise. Histograms from active ECoG often deviated from noise in Rayleigh distributions of down spike intervals by giving what are called Rice (Mathematical analysis of random noise—and appendixes—technical publications monograph B-1589. Bell Telephone Labs Inc., New York, 1950) distributions. Adding power to noise as signals at single frequencies simulated those deviations. The beats in dynamic theory are deemed essential for perception, by gating beta and gamma bursts at theta rates through enhancement of the cortical signal-to-noise ratio in exceptionally deep down spikes called null spikes.     

Development and validation of a Sensitive bioanalytical method for the quantitative estimation of Pantoprazole in human plasma samples by LC–MS/MS: Application to bioequivalence study

The present study aims at developing a simple, sensitive and specific liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) method for the quantification of pantoprazole sodium (PS) in human plasma using pantoprazole D3 (PSD3) as internal standard (IS). Chromatographic separation was performed on Zorbax SB-C18, 4.6 mm × 75 mm, 3.5 μm, 80 Å column with an isocratic mobile phase composed of 10 mM ammonium acetate (pH 7.10): acetonitrile (30:70, v/v), pumped at 0.6 mL/min. PS and PSD3 were detected with proton adducts at m/z 384.2 → 200.1 and 387.1 → 203.1 in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) positive mode, respectively. Precipitation method was employed in the extraction of PS and PSD3 from the biological matrix. This method was validated over a linear concentration range of 10.00–3000.00 ng/mL with correlation coefficient (r) ≥ 0.9997. Intra- and inter-day precision of PS were found to be within the range of 1.13–1.54 and 1.76–2.86, respectively. Both analytes were stable throughout freeze/thaw cycles, bench top and postoperative stability studies. This method was successfully utilized in the analysis of blood samples following oral administration of PS (40 mg) in healthy human volunteers.     

卒中后抑郁大鼠多导睡眠图研究

目的:探讨卒中后抑郁(PSD)大鼠多导睡眠图的检测方法和变化特征。方法:雄性SD(Sprague Dawley)大鼠随机分为3组:对照组、卒中组、PSD组,通过结扎双侧颈总动脉结合孤养法、慢性不可预知应激刺激,建立PSD模型,同时将电极缝制在大鼠头皮下进行多导睡眠图监测。结果:多导睡眠图可清晰地记录大鼠活动、脑电、肌电、眼动等情况;PSD组大鼠快眼动睡眠潜伏期(REM latency,RL)为(108.2±16.1)s,较对照组(152.5±20.5)s和卒中组(145.1±18.7)s缩短,差异有统计学意义(P0.01);PSD组大鼠快眼动睡眠时间百分比(5.2%±1.2%),较对照组(8.3%±1.4%)和卒中组(7.9%±1.6%)降低,差异有统计学意义(P0.01)。结论:头皮下缝制电极法适合大鼠多导睡眠图监测应用;多导睡眠图可以做为PSD模型的一个检测指标。     

视皮层LTP维持阶段的突触形态计量学研究

本实验使用１８～２０ｄ的幼年大鼠视皮层脑片标本,在ＬＴＰ出现后３ｈ取局部微脑片固定进行ＬＴＰ维持阶段超微结构的研究。分别与孵育相同时间而未予任何刺激的脑片和仅给予测试刺激的脑片作比较。运用图像分析仪分别对三组电镜结果进行以下参数的测量：（１）突触间隙的宽度;（２）突触后致密物（ＰＳＤ）的厚度;（３）活性区的长度;和（４）突触界面曲率。用双盲法对突触数目进行计量,并用立体计量学方法对各种突触类型进行定量,所得数据用方差分析进行统计学处理。结果显示：（１）ＬＴＰ形成后１５ｈ左右,其反应达到峰值,然后维持在最高水平一直到３ｈ仍无下降趋势;（２）突触间隙的宽度较两个对照组明显增宽;（３）ＰＳＤ的厚度也明显增厚;（４）活性区的面密度及突触界面曲率明显增加;（５）总突触数目和棘突触数目的数密度较空白对照明显增高;（６）穿孔性突触的数密度与对照组相比明显增加。结果提示：活性区面密度的增加及突触界面曲率的增大可能是ＬＴＰ维持的形态学基础。穿孔性突触的形成与ＬＴＰ的维持密切相关。     

Rewiring cell signaling: the logic and plasticity of eukaryotic protein circuitry

Living cells rival computers in their ability to process external information and make complex behavioral decisions. Many of these decisions are made by networks of interacting signaling proteins. Ongoing structural, biochemical and cell-based studies have begun to reveal several common principles by which protein components are used to specifically transmit and process information. Recent engineering studies demonstrate that these relatively simple principles can be used to rewire signaling behavior in a process that mimics the evolution of new phenotypic responses.