The Department of Neuroscience would like to recognize and congratulate third year graduate student, Nicola Rutherford, and her mentor, Dr. Benoit Giasson on her receipt of an Outstanding International Student Award. Nicola is one of six recipients from the College of Medicine. These students will be recognized for their accomplishments…
Subcellular Localization of Matrin 3 Containing Mutations Associated with ALS and Distal Myopathy. Gallego-Iradi MC, Clare AM, Brown HH, Janus C, Lewis J, Borchelt DR. PLoS One 2015; 10(11):e0142144. Abstract: BACKGROUND: Mutations in Matrin 3 [MATR3], an RNA- and DNA-binding protein normally localized to the nucleus, have…
Microglia in Dementia with Lewy Bodies. Streit WJ, Xue QS. Brain Behav Immun 2015. Abstract: Microglial activation (neuroinflammation) is often cited as a pathogenic factor in the development of neurodegenerative diseases. However, there are significant caveats associated with the idea that inflammation directly causes either α-synuclein pathology…
Unbiased View of Synaptic and Neuronal Gene Complement in Ctenophores: Are There Pan-neuronal and Pan-synaptic Genes across Metazoa? Moroz LL, Kohn AB. Integr Comp Biol 2015. Abstract: Hypotheses of origins and evolution of neurons and synapses are controversial, mostly due to limited comparative data. Here, we investigated…
Physiologically relevant factors influence tau phosphorylation by leucine-rich repeat kinase 2. Hamm M, Bailey R, Shaw G, Yen SH, Lewis J, Giasson BI. J Neurosci Res 2015; 93(10):1567-1580. Abstract: Hyperphosphorylation and aggregation of tau are observed in multiple neurodegenerative diseases termed tauopathies. Tau has also been…
Dopamine Transporter Activity Is Modulated by alpha-Synuclein. Butler B, Saha K, Rana T, Becker JP, Sambo D, Davari P, Goodwin JS, Khoshbouei H. J Biol Chem 2015. Abstract: The duration and strength of the dopaminergic signal is regulated by the dopamine transporter (DAT). Drug addiction, neurodegenerative and…
Propagation of alpha-synuclein pathology: hypotheses, discoveries, and yet unresolved questions from experimental and human brain studies. Uchihara T, Giasson BI. Acta Neuropathol 2015. Abstract: Progressive aggregation of alpha-synuclein (αS) through formation of amorphous pale bodies to mature Lewy bodies or in neuronal processes as Lewy neurites may…
Age-related impairments in object-place associations are not due to hippocampal dysfunction. Hernandez AR, Maurer AP, Reasor JE, Turner SM, Barthle SE, Johnson SA, Burke SN. Behav Neurosci 2015; 129(5):599-610. Abstract: Age-associated cognitive decline can reduce an individual’s quality of life. As no single neurobiological deficit can account…
Deficits in hippocampal-dependent transfer generalization learning accompany synaptic dysfunction in a mouse model of amyloidosis. Montgomery KS, Edwards G, III, Levites Y, Kumar A, Myers CE, Gluck MA, Setlow B, Bizon JL. Hippocampus 2015. Abstract: Elevated β-amyloid and impaired synaptic function in hippocampus are…
