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Volume 10 Issue 8, August 2007

Dellisanti and colleagues solved the crystal structure of the N-terminal extracellular domain of the mouse nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) α1 subunit, then used structure-guided mutagenesis and patch-clamp recording to identify a hydrophilic patch inside the beta sandwich that is important for agonist-induced channel opening. The cover shows a ribbon model of mouse nAChR α1 subunit extracellular domain (dark blue) mounted into a surface model of intact nAChR based on electron microscopy of Torpedo nAChR. Magenta, carbohydrate chain; red, buried water; light blue, α-bungarotoxin. (pp 937 and 953)

Volume 10 Issue 8

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  • Data sharing is not only good citizenship for researchers, but is also required by funding agencies and many journals. The scientific community needs to develop better incentives to encourage compliance and reward those who share.

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  • Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is important in regulating synaptic plasticity in the brain areas that process reward information. A new study reports that BDNF in the nucleus accumbens, a brain area critical for the rewarding effects of cocaine, promotes persistent cocaine-seeking behaviors and heightens relapse vulnerability.

    • Geoffrey Schoenbaum
    • Thomas A Stalnaker
    • Yavin Shaham
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  • A high-resolution crystal structure of the ligand-binding domain of the human nicotinic acetylcholine receptor α subunit, with three point mutations to improve its crystallization, provides both reassurance and exciting new insights.

    • Titia K Sixma
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  • Pheromones influence sexual behavior and reproduction in rodents. A new report suggests that neurogenesis induced in the female mouse brain by male pheromones governs the choice of dominant males as mates.

    • Derek P DiRocco
    • Zhengui Xia
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  • Central pattern generators provide the basic stepping pattern in walking, but cannot adjust for the environment. A new study of human locomotion shows a pattern of changes in independent neural controllers for left and right legs.

    • R Christopher Miall
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