Behavioral control by striatal A2A ‐dopamine D2 receptor heteromers
G protein‐coupled receptors (GPCR) exhibit the ability to form receptor complexes that include molecularly different GPCR (i.e. GPCR heteromers), which endow them with singular functional and pharmacological characteristics. The relative expression of GPCR heteromers remains a matter of intense debate. Recent studies support that adenosine A2A receptors (A2AR) and dopamine D2 receptors (D2R) predominantly form A2AR‐D2R heteromers in the striatum. The aim of the present study was evaluating the behavioral effects of pharmacological manipulation and genetic blockade of A2AR and D2R within the frame of such a predominant ...
Source: Genes, Brain and Behavior - September 1, 2017 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Jaume Taura, Marta Valle ‐León, Kristoffer Sahlholm, Masahiko Watanabe, Katheleen Van Craenenbroeck, Víctor Fernández‐Dueñas, Sergi Ferré, Francisco Ciruela Tags: Original Article Source Type: research
Variants regulating ZBTB4 are associated with age ‐at‐onset of Alzheimer's disease
The identification of novel genetic modifiers of age‐at‐onset of Alzheimer's disease could advance our understanding of AD and provide novel therapeutic targets. A previous genome scan for modifiers of age‐at‐onset among families affected by early‐onset Alzheimer's disease caused by the PSEN2 N141I variant identified two loci with significant evidence for linkage: 1q23.3 and 17p13.2. Here, we describe the fine‐mapping of these two linkage regions, and test for replication in six independent data sets. By fine‐mapping these linkage signals in a single large family, we reduced the linkage regions to 11% their o...
Source: Genes, Brain and Behavior - September 1, 2017 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Elizabeth E. Blue, Chang ‐En Yu, Timothy A. Thornton, Nicola H. Chapman, Eric Kernfeld, Nan Jiang, Kathryn M. Shively, Kati J. Buckingham, Colby T. Marvin, Michael J. Bamshad, Thomas D. Bird, Ellen M. Wijsman Tags: Original Article Source Type: research
Potential of microRNAs as novel targets in the alleviation of pathological fear
Abstract
The current treatment of post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), phobias and other anxiety disorders, remains insufficient particularly in producing long‐lasting full symptom control. Dysfunctional fear processing is common in these disorders, including a deficiency in fear‐inhibitory mechanisms and impairment in the ability to discriminate between safety and danger cues. Research has aimed to elucidate brain circuitries, neurotransmitters and downstream signaling pathways important in the alleviation of aberrant fear, with a specific focus on mechanisms modulating fear memory and its behavioral expression. M...
Source: Genes, Brain and Behavior - September 1, 2017 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Conor P Murphy, Nicolas Singewald Tags: Review Source Type: research
The emerging role of mRNA methylation in normal and pathological behavior
Covalent RNA modifications were recently rediscovered as abundant RNA chemical tags. Similarly to DNA epigenetic modifications, they have been proposed as essential regulators of gene expression. Here we focus on two of the most abundant adenosine methylations: N6‐methyladenosine (m6A), N6,2′‐O‐dimethyladenosine (m6Am) and N1‐methyladenosine (m1A). We review the potential role of these modifications on mature mRNA in regulating gene expression within the adult brain, nervous system function and normal and pathological behavior.
Dynamic mRNA modifications, summarized as the epitranscriptome, regulate transcript ma...
Source: Genes, Brain and Behavior - September 1, 2017 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Mareen Engel, Alon Chen Tags: Review Source Type: research
Experience ‐dependent neural plasticity, learning, and memory in the era of epitranscriptomics
Abstract
In this short review, we highlight recent findings in the emerging field of epitranscriptomic mechanisms and discuss their potential role in neural plasticity, learning and memory. These include the influence of RNA modifications on activity‐induced RNA structure states, RNA editing and RNA localization, and how qualitative state changes in RNA increase the functional diversity and information‐carrying capacity of RNA molecules. We predict that RNA modifications may be just as important for synaptic plasticity and memory as quantitative changes in transcript and protein abundance, but with the added advantage ...
Source: Genes, Brain and Behavior - September 1, 2017 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Laura J. Leighton, Ke Ke, Esmi L. Zajaczkowski, Jordan Edmunds, Robert C. Spitale, Timothy W. Bredy Tags: Review Source Type: research
The mushroom body D1 dopamine receptor controls innate courtship drive
Abstract
Mating is critical for species survival and is profoundly regulated by neuromodulators and neurohormones to accommodate internal states and external factors. To identify the underlying neuromodulatory mechanisms, we investigated the roles of dopamine receptors in various aspects of courtship behavior in Drosophila. Here we report that the D1 dopamine receptor dDA1 regulates courtship drive in naïve males. The wild‐type naïve males actively courted females regardless their appearance or mating status. On the contrary, the dDA1 mutant (dumb) males exhibited substantially reduced courtship toward less appealing f...
Source: Genes, Brain and Behavior - September 1, 2017 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Junghwa Lim, Ana I. Fernandez, Samantha J. Hinojos, Gissel P. Aranda, Jacqueline James, Chang ‐Soo Seong, Kyung‐An Han Tags: Original Article Source Type: research
Dopaminergic and behavioural changes in a loss ‐of‐imprinting model of Cdkn1c
Genes, Brain and Behavior,Volume 17, Issue 2, Page 149-157, February 2018. (Source: Genes, Brain and Behavior)
Source: Genes, Brain and Behavior - August 31, 2017 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Source Type: research
Persistent histone modifications at the BDNF and Cdk ‐5 promoters following extinction of nicotine‐seeking in rats
Genes, Brain and Behavior,Volume 17, Issue 2, Page 98-106, February 2018. (Source: Genes, Brain and Behavior)
Source: Genes, Brain and Behavior - August 31, 2017 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Source Type: research
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Genes, Brain and Behavior,Volume 17, Issue 2, Page 149-157, February 2018. (Source: Genes, Brain and Behavior)
Source: Genes, Brain and Behavior - August 31, 2017 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Source Type: research
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Genes, Brain and Behavior,Volume 17, Issue 2, Page 98-106, February 2018. (Source: Genes, Brain and Behavior)
Source: Genes, Brain and Behavior - August 31, 2017 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Source Type: research
Persistent histone modifications at the BDNF and Cdk ‐5 promoters following extinction of nicotine‐seeking in rats
ABSTRACT
Drugs of addiction lead to a wide range of epigenetic changes at the promoter regions of genes directly implicated in learning and memory processes. We have previously shown that the histone deactylase inhibitor, sodium butyrate (NaB), accelerates the extinction of nicotine‐seeking and provides resistance to relapse. Here we explore the potential molecular mechanisms underlying this effect. Rats received intravenous nicotine or saline self‐administration, followed by six days of extinction training, with each extinction session followed immediately by treatment with NaB or vehicle. On the last day of extinctio...
Source: Genes, Brain and Behavior - August 31, 2017 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Matthew R. Castino, Danay Baker ‐Andresen, Vikram S. Ratnu, Galina Shevchenko, Kevin V. Morris, Timothy W. Bredy, Neil A. Youngson, Kelly J. Clemens Tags: Original Article Source Type: research
Deficiency of aminopeptidase P1 causes behavioral hyperactivity, cognitive deficits, and hippocampal neurodegeneration
Genes, Brain and Behavior,Volume 17, Issue 2, Page 126-138, February 2018. (Source: Genes, Brain and Behavior)
Source: Genes, Brain and Behavior - August 23, 2017 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Source Type: research
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Genes, Brain and Behavior,Volume 17, Issue 2, Page 126-138, February 2018. (Source: Genes, Brain and Behavior)
Source: Genes, Brain and Behavior - August 23, 2017 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Source Type: research
Heterogeneous stock rats: a model to study the genetics of despair ‐like behavior in adolescence
Genes, Brain and Behavior,Volume 17, Issue 2, Page 139-148, February 2018. (Source: Genes, Brain and Behavior)
Source: Genes, Brain and Behavior - August 22, 2017 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Source Type: research
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Genes, Brain and Behavior,Volume 17, Issue 2, Page 139-148, February 2018. (Source: Genes, Brain and Behavior)
Source: Genes, Brain and Behavior - August 22, 2017 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Source Type: research
