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Article
| Open Access
Transcranial focused ultrasound-mediated neurochemical and functional connectivity changes in deep cortical regions in humans
The neural mechanisms underlying transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) in humans are not well understood. Here, the authors show that theta-burst stimulation reduces gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) levels in the posterior cingulate cortex, as well as increasing functional connectivity in the anterior and posterior cingulate cortex.
- Siti N. Yaakub
- , Tristan A. White
- & Elsa F. Fouragnan
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Article
| Open Access
Control of a hippocampal recurrent excitatory circuit by cannabinoid receptor-interacting protein Gap43
Cannabis impacts our brain by engaging the CB1 receptor. Here, the authors identify a protein called GAP43 that interacts with CB1 and blocks its synaptic functions. This finding provides a conceptual view to understand how CB1 acts in the brain.
- Irene B. Maroto
- , Carlos Costas-Insua
- & Manuel Guzmán
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Article
| Open Access
Structural basis of neuropeptide Y signaling through Y1 receptor
The human neuropeptide Y (NPY) acts through G-protein coupled receptors and is involved in food intake, stress response, anxiety, and memory retention. Here, the authors show that, unlike in other neuropeptides, both the N-terminal and the C-terminal regions of NPY interact with the NPY receptor 1.
- Chaehee Park
- , Jinuk Kim
- & Hee-Jung Choi
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Article
| Open Access
Redirected nuclear glutamate dehydrogenase supplies Tet3 with α-ketoglutarate in neurons
α-ketoglutarate (αKG) is an intermediate in the tricarboxylic acid cycle that is required in the nucleus for genomic DNA demethylation by Tet3. Here, the authors show that the enzyme glutamate dehydrogenase, which converts glutamate to αKG, is redirected from the mitochondria to the nucleus.
- Franziska R. Traube
- , Dilara Özdemir
- & Thomas Carell
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Article
| Open Access
Astrocytes regulate brain extracellular pH via a neuronal activity-dependent bicarbonate shuttle
Several mechanisms contribute to the maintenance of constant extracellular pH, essential for normal brain function. Here the authors show that astrocytes help to control local brain pH via a neuronal activity-dependent release of bicarbonate by the electrogenic sodium bicarbonate cotransporter 1.
- Shefeeq M. Theparambil
- , Patrick S. Hosford
- & Alexander V. Gourine
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Article
| Open Access
Learning to optimize perceptual decisions through suppressive interactions in the human brain
Learning improves perceptual decisions by enhancing the brain's ability to filter noise and irrelevant information. Here, the authors show that GABAergic inhibition in decision-making circuits supports our ability to optimize perceptual judgments through learning and experience.
- Polytimi Frangou
- , Uzay E. Emir
- & Zoe Kourtzi
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Article
| Open Access
Introduction of pathogenic mutations into the mouse Psen1 gene by Base Editor and Target-AID
CRISPR-guided cytidine deaminases, including BE3 (Base Editor 3) and Target-AID (activation-induced cytidine deaminase), can covert C:G base pairs to T:A at target site. Here, the authors generate missense mutations of mouse Psen1 gene and find BE3 has higher editing efficiency than Target-AID.
- Hiroki Sasaguri
- , Kenichi Nagata
- & Takaomi C. Saido
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Article
| Open Access
A homologue of the Parkinson’s disease-associated protein LRRK2 undergoes a monomer-dimer transition during GTP turnover
The Parkinson’s disease‐associated LRRK2 protein is a multidomain Roco protein with GTPase activity. Here the authors use a multidisciplinary approach to characterize the GTPase mechanism of a homologous bacterial Roco protein and give mechanistic insights into disease-causing LRRK2 mutations.
- Egon Deyaert
- , Lina Wauters
- & Wim Versées
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Article
| Open Access
Imaging large-scale cellular activity in spinal cord of freely behaving mice
Imaging cellular activity in mouse spinal cord has been historically difficult. Here the authors develop cellular resolution fluorescence imaging approaches in the spinal cord of behaving mice, and report distinct activity patterns of neurons and astrocytes in response to different sensory inputs.
- Kohei J. Sekiguchi
- , Pavel Shekhtmeyster
- & Axel Nimmerjahn
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Article
| Open Access
Awake dynamics and brain-wide direct inputs of hypothalamic MCH and orexin networks
Hypothalamic neurons expressing melanin-concentrating-hormone (MCH) maintain body weight by orchestrating behaviour and metabolism, but little is known about their intrinsic regulation. Here, Gonzalez and colleagues reveal their behaviour-related dynamics during wakefulness, and map their brain-wide neural inputs.
- J. Antonio González
- , Panagiota Iordanidou
- & Denis Burdakov
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Article
| Open Access
Temporal decorrelation by SK channels enables efficient neural coding and perception of natural stimuli
The neural mechanisms underlying efficient coding of natural sensory stimuli have yet to be fully determined. Here, monitoring sensory pyramidal cells in weakly electric fish, the authors find SK channels are necessary for matching the responsiveness of neurons to natural stimuli and subsequent behavioural responses.
- Chengjie G. Huang
- , Zhubo D. Zhang
- & Maurice J. Chacron
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Article
| Open Access
Liver-derived ketone bodies are necessary for food anticipation
Food anticipation is thought to be initiated by the central clock in the brain. Here the authors show that the peripheral organs initiate this process by showing that liver-specific deletion of Per2 can inhibit food anticipation by interfering with ß-hydroxybutyrate production and its subsequent processing in the brain.
- Rohit Chavan
- , Céline Feillet
- & Urs Albrecht
A release of local subunit conformational heterogeneity underlies gating in a muscle nicotinic acetylcholine receptor