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.

Cell biology of microtubules

Microtubules are also known as filamentous polymers. Microtubules play a role in the segregation of chromosomes and molecular transport. Research has been done to examine various lengths of microtubules in response to the changes of their proteins. Microtubules are outer cylinders that secure protofilaments consisting of tubulin proteins and serve as an intercellular transport network by providing mechanical stability.

Scientist, Erwin Frey, stated that as microtubules elongate, the greater the number of motor proteins will accommodate. These motor molecules are called kinesins, which proceed along the protofilament. Kinesin proteins move toward the positive end of the microtubule, while the motor protein moves toward the negative end. When the kinesin protein reaches the end, it detaches from the filament and takes the tubulin, thus allowing another tubulin to bind to the end. In certain ranges, the growth and shrinkage of the microtubules operates as it would if resources were not limiting. However, components and resources within a cell are unlikely to be available in unlimited amounts. Therefore, there is a certain length at which the rates of growth and shrinkage balance out.

Microtubules play an essential role in the cell, for they allow for the segregation of chromosomes. Having kinesin proteins allow for the microtubule to elongate and perform its function to the cell.

For additional information, refer to the original article.

For information on microtubules and protein functions, refer to link1 and article1.

Novel Approach To Finding RNAs Involved In Long-Term Memory Storage

A recent article found on Medical News today along with publishings in Sage Journal discuss recent discoveries about how RNA is involved in memory and learning. Despite decades of research, little is known as to how RNA transporting is used in memory. Scientists from major universities have come together to develop a strategy for isolating and characterizing RNAs transported from the cell-body of neuron to the synapse. A synapse is a small gap separating neurons that enables cell to cell communication. Using this new method, scientists were able to identify 6,000 RNA sequences in a species of slug.

The goal of scientists is to identify the synaptic transcriptome, or the complete set of RNA molecules transported from the neuronal cell body to the synapse. To do so, scientists focused on RNA transport complexes that interact with the molecular motor kinesin. Kinesin is known to carry memory storage over the early stages of memory storage. Scientists know the process up until this point. However, after they reach their synaptic destination, they are handed over to more localized mechanisms. Recently, scientists have identified many unique sequences of both coding and noncoding RNAs from these localized mechnisms. This is the first step in understanding  how RNA is involved in long-term memory storage.