Temperature-induced RNA recoding in octopus

The difficulty in adjusting to the significant seasonal temperature fluctuations in the Pacific Ocean around the southern Californian coast is faced by Octopus bimaculoides. A research by Birk et al. published in Cell examined the effects of temperature on RNA recoding across the neural transcriptome of adult octopuses in order to comprehend the processes behind this acclimatization process. For two to three weeks, the scientists kept octopuses in temperature-controlled aquariums at 13 °C and 22 °C. They discovered that this acclimatization process was greatly aided by RNA editing via adenosine deamination. At 13 °C compared to 22 °C (cold-induced), almost 33% of the recoding locations in the stellate ganglia had greater editing levels. When the temperature changed, these alterations happened quickly within hours and stabilized after four days. Kinesin-1 and synaptotagmin, two brain proteins involved in axonal transport and synaptic transmission, respectively, underwent structural and functional reconfiguration as a result of the cold's induction of RNA editing. The kinetics of Ca2+-binding and these proteins' motility were changed. The study discovered comparable results in populations of wild octopuses collected in the winter and late summer, indicating that closely related species like O. bimaculoides and O. bimaculatus also exhibit cold-induced RNA editing.

This study shows that brain proteome reconfiguration in octopus adaptation to changing environmental circumstances is significantly mediated by temperature-dependent RNA recoding. The study showed that quick and adaptable RNA editing in response to temperature changes alters the structure and function of brain proteins. Further evidence for the evolutionary conservation of this mechanism comes from the discovery of comparable patterns in populations of wild octopuses. The results offer up new lines of inquiry for future studies to investigate if RNA editing can adapt to other environmental changes and what role it can play in the adaptation and survival of diverse creatures encountering comparable difficulties.

"Off Switch" for pain relief?

     On Wednesday, November 26, 2014 scientific efforts led by Salvemini at Saint Louis University Medical Center believe that the finding of blocking a pain pathway in animal models will lead to a "promising" new approach to pain relief.  The findings have produced the results that blocking a pain pathway in animal models of chronic neuropathic pain including pain caused by chemotherapeutic agents and bone cancer pain suggesting a promising new approach to pain relief.  Ultimately, it was demonstrated that turning on a receptor in the brain and spinal cord counteracts chronic nerve pain in male and female rodents.  The activation of the A3 receptor by either the natural chemical stimulator, adenosine, or a powerful synthetic drug invented by the NIH, prevents or reverses pain that slowly develops from nerve damage. 

     These findings are significant because pain is a significant issue that many individuals suffer from on a daily basis.  Additionally, some treatments result in intolerable side effects and do not prevent the pain.  The pathways that are typically targeted are circuits involving opioid, adrenergic, and calcium channels where scientists take advantage of the molecular-level component interactions.  

     Moreover, Salvemini and colleagues demonstrated that the activation of A3 adenosine is key in mediating the pain relieving effects of adenosine.  Salvemini states that, "It has long been appreciated that harnessing the potent pain-killing effects of adenosine could provide a breakthrough step towards an effective treatment for chronic pain."  Researchers are excited to note that A3AR agonist are already in advanced clinical trials as an anti-inflammatory and anticancer agents which also display good safety profiles.

     I found this article to be quite interesting and intriguing to read about.  Pain is a persistent annoyance that many individuals go through on a daily-basis, myself included and these findings can be a step in the right direction to helping out so many individuals live a healthy and active life. 

Main article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/11/141126132639.htm