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Lipids function as both structural membrane components and signalling molecules. Piomelli and colleagues review the implications of lipids in neuronal function, discuss the technical challenges in the field and highlight the potential roles of lipid-mediated retrograde signalling at central synapses.
The ability of retinoic acid to reactivate developmental programmes in the adult suggests that it could be important for the induction of regeneration and the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders. In this Review, Malcolm Maden discusses the roles of retinoic acid in the developing and mature nervous system, highlighting its potential therapeutic applications.
Nitric oxide (NO) has multiple physiological functions in the nervous system. Calabreseet al. focus on the neuroprotective and neurotoxic effects of NO and, based on our understanding of NO-mediated pathways, list potential therapeutic strategies for the prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
Local protein synthesis in dendrites is thought to contribute to local changes in synaptic activity during development and learning. Bramham and Wells review what is known about the regulation of dendritic mRNAs and their function in activity-dependent plasticity.
Many neurons show daily rhythms in gene expression and electrical activity. Erik Herzog discusses the molecular and cellular events that underlie this rhythmicity, and shows how the robustness and plasticity of the circadian system allow the brain to adapt to environmental conditions.
The development of neuroprotective drugs has been hampered by the fact that many drugs interfere with normal brain functions. Stuart Lipton describes strategies for drug development that are based on the principle that drugs should interact with their target only during states of pathological activation.
