A Very Specific Kind of Brain Cell Dies Off in People with Parkinsons

A very specific kind of brain cell dies in people with Parkinson’s | Science News

Parkinson's disease - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic

United States Population (2023) - Worldometer (worldometers.info)

By: Laura Sanders

    After reading this article about the kind of cell that removes in people with Parkinson's disease. Parkinson's disease affects the nervous system and any part of the body where the nerves controls. According to Mayo Clinic, the symptoms for this disease are tremors, rigid movements, bradykinesia, speech & writing changes, and impaired balance. There is no reported cure for Parkinson's except for medications that improves the symptoms. In the U.S. 1 million people are likely to have Parkinson's disease compared to a total population of 340 million according to World Meters. The article talks about how the dopamine cells in the substantia nigra that is categorized into ten different groups. Scientists found out that one of the cell types was diminished after examining a dead patient with Parkinson's. I found this article very interesting and learned so much about this disease that people unfortunately face. 

How octopuses ‘taste’ things by touching

 

In this article from Science news, researchers have identified unique nerve cells in octopuses that allow them to taste with their arms. The cells detect the chemicals that are produced by many aquatic creatures and help the octopus distinguish rocks, food and even poisonous prey. All this research was done by a molecular biologist named Nicholas Bellono and hiss colleagues at Harvard University. 

The researchers also speculated that these new findings help look at the bigger picture regarding the evolutionary path of octopuses. The found that tow thirds of nerve cells are scattered throughout the octopuses arms which allows them to operate semi-independently. To learn more, Bellono and his colleagues looked at the arms of a California two-spot octopus and saw what appeared to be sensory cells with fine branched endings. These cells were then isolated to test how they respond and they turned out to be very similar to those that detect touch. The researched did another study to see how the receptors worked and inserted them into human and frog cells. They also confirmed that octopuses do use receptors to sense chemicals by touch and the researchers are already working on trying to identify other compounds that could be detected by these sensors.

I think that this is a great evolutionary find. Who knows what else octopuses can do that we are not aware of. Its crazy to think they these creatures use their arms for touch and for taste. I hope more studies are done to find out more information. I have attached another article that looks into the mind of an octopus. 

Links:

https://www.sciencenews.org/article/octopus-taste-touch-arm-suckers

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-mind-of-an-octopus/

3-D Imaging of DNA Migration

At the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, scientists have been able to document the movement and reorganization of genetic material that takes place within a cell through 3-D visualizations. In the image below, researchers developed a 3-D reconstruction of mouse olfactory cells through X-ray imaging tools. The importance of this discovery allows for easier understanding of patterning and reorganization of chromatin within in the cell's nucleus. By understanding how the chromatin is organized within the nucleus, it helps to determine its relation the the cell's specialization in terms of activated or silenced genes.

The process of the 3-D visualization is performed through a powerful X-ray microscope at Berkeley Lab's Advanced Light Source (ALS). Researchers capture images of the cells of interest at different maturity stages as the cell becomes more specialized for its specific function. This process, known as "differentiation", uses different angles of 2-D images to calculate the 3-D reconstruction of the chromatin formation. 

The benefits of the 3-D visualization of the chromatin was not having to chemically treat the cell in order to observe the change in the nucleus. Because chromatin is very sensitive, chemical stains had to be used to indirectly image the cell, assuming the stain was evenly distributed. According to Carolyn Larabell, a faculty scientist at Berkeley Lab, originally hypothesized that chromatin exist as a series of disconnected islands. However, through the 3-D visualization, it was determined that chromatin was all connected and packed within the nucleus. Larabell hopes that new insight into gene expression can be made, especially with their current study of mice olfactory genes.

Through using the mouse olfactory genes as a model for studying, researchers hope to target how the gene expression works within Alzheimer's disease. The disease itself attacks the brain's nerve cells in which can cause a loss in senses such as smell. By using the 3-D imaging technique, scientists can understand the connection of the gene expression to the olfactory nerve cells. By using this study as a precursor, scientists can hopefully use this technique to determine cures for other diseases that attack nerves cells. This study is very important in medicine and cell research because it allows scientists how diseases and disorders are related to gene expression. By targeting which expressed gene causes a disease, drugs can be created that can silence the gene expression, thus leading to a very large breakthrough in medicine. 

Discovery of Autism Gene Mutation that Slows Brain Activity

When the term, "autism" was first used by Eugen Bleuler, a Swiss psychiatrist, it was referred to one group of symptoms of schizophrenia in 1911. Autism became more prevalent during the 1940's when researchers used the term to describe children with emotional or social problems. Over time during the 1960-1980's, research was funded for treating autism through medications such as LSD, electric shock, and behavioral change techniques. Upon reaching the early 2000's, the prevalence of autism in the United States has risen to almost 120%. 

According to medical experts, autism is characterized by "repetitive behaviors and problems with communication and social skills." Typically, autism is 4.5 times more common among boys than girls. This usually occurs around the age of 3 and can last an entire lifetime. Signs can be seen very early on or even later on in life. Unfortunately, there are no cures for autism or treatments that can reduce the severity of the symptoms.

However, researchers from McMaster University have identified the gene mutation that impedes brain activity. Lead investigator, Karun Singh of the Stem Cell and Cancer Research Institute, and his team of researchers have identified the mutations in the gene called DIXDC1. By doing a genetic analysis of individuals of individuals with autism, scientists have identified abnormalities in the DIXDC1 gene that stop the DIXDC1 protein from instructing brain cells to form synapses. Synapses are essential structures within the nervous system that enable signaling between nerve cells. In some individuals with autism, mutations were found on this specific gene in which caused the gene to be "switched off." This causes the synapses to remain immature, thus reducing brain activity.

Based on these results, Singh's team of researchers who specialize in drug recovery, can begin to research for drugs that will turn on the DIXDC1 gene on and correct synaptic connections.  While this gene mutation is found only in small numbers of individuals, researchers can begin to pinpoint other genes that have similar symptoms and administer drugs that can correct the synaptic connection. This discovery is a turning point in autism treatment because it helps to pave the way for targeting the core symptoms of autism. The key to this study is that treatments can be researched that allow brain cell synapse growth and activity to restored, thus improving the overall condition of autism patients. By taking the concepts from this study, the genetic analysis can be applied to other forms of mutations or diseases in which is a important breakthrough in medicine. Hopefully in due time, autism patients can get the treatment they need that will help to reduce the social problems they encounter.