Articles in 2010

Two main features make budding yeast a key model organism for eukaryotic biology: its amenability to analysis and its conserved genome and cellular biology. Here, the authors highlight the valuable mechanistic insights into the cell-autonomous mechanisms of neurodegeneration that are emerging from studies inSaccharomyces cerevisiae.

Leptin increases GluR1 expression and synaptic strength through inhibition of PTEN.

Activation of GIRK channels decreases the excitability of neurons. Lüscher and Slesinger discuss the subunit composition and function of GIRK channels in several brain regions and the possible role of GIRK channel dysfunction in neurological diseases such as epilepsy, Down's syndrome and drug addiction.

Noradrenergic innervation from the locus coeruleus stimulates recruitment of microglia to amyloid plaques and phagocytosis of amyloid-β peptides.

The strength of phase-locking between single neuron spikes and theta oscillations predicts the strength of the memory being formed.

Dynamic changes in the ubiquitylation of presynaptic proteins regulate neurotransmitter release.

Studies in fruit flies have greatly aided our understanding of the nervous system. Bellen and colleagues take us through the key findings in the last century. They argue that thanks to the unmatched wealth of tools that can be used inDrosophila melanogaster, research in flies will continue to contribute to many aspects of vertebrate neuroscience.

Pulvermüller and Fadiga address the much discussed question of whether speech comprehension depends on activation of cortical motor areas. Reviewing data from neuroimaging, brain stimulation, lesion and computational studies, they conclude that action and perception circuits have interdependent roles in language comprehension.

Transient deficits inDisc1expression before birth cause abnormalities in the dopaminergic system and behavioural impairments after puberty.

CAMK2α acts as a scaffold for proteasomes at synapses.

Highly debated topics in neuroscience.

The importance of neurotransmitter release by astrocytes is highly controversial. Hamilton and Attwell review evidence for the release of glutamate,D-serine and ATP by astrocytes and their role in shaping synaptic activity. Potential mechanisms of astrocyte neurotransmitter release, including regulated exocytosis, are assessed.

Kotaleski and Blackwell describe computational approaches derived from systems biology that have been used to elucidate the complex molecular mechanisms underlying synaptic plasticity. They highlight the advancements produced by these quantitative modelling efforts and discuss new approaches that incorporate data from live-cell imaging.

ARC-mediated downregulation of AMPA receptors at the synapse may explain the abnormal CNS development in Angelman's syndrome.

microRNAs promote the development of myelin-forming oligodendrocytes from rapidly proliferating oligodendrocyte precursor cells.

Emerging data suggest that small regulatory RNAs regulate stem cell self-renewal and neuronal fate specification. Li and Jin review the mechanisms through which this can be achieved and the implications for vertebrate and invertebrate neurogenesis.

The function of adult hippocampal neurogenesis is incompletely understood. Gage and colleagues describe the regulation and maturation of adult-born hippocampal neurons and review behavioural and computational modelling studies that indicate how adult-born neurons might contribute to hippocampus-dependent learning and memory.

Radial-glia-like cells in the developing human brain may distinguish primate cortical growth from that of other species.