New method for studying gene expression could improve understanding of brain disease

The brain contains millions and millions of neurons, many different types that most people do not realize. The more recent years of studying the brain have included classifying the different types of neurons, to be able to "understand how the brain works." Scientists are most interested in understanding the molecular distinction between the different types, in different species, to see if the cell types are different or similar in varying species, in order to be able to "identify cellular abnormalities."

A scientist, Nathaniel Heintz, suggests that neurons from a mouse are similar to those of a humans: as far as shape and size. However, the similarity may be hiding the true difference in function. In order to test this, Heintz and his team used "cell-specific antibodies to purify nuclei (of particular brain cells) to analyze which genes they expressed." The researchers discovered that human neurons expressed many genes and the mouse did not. "The genes that a neuron expresses determine how the cell responds to stimuli, how it is affected by disease, and how it reacts to medications," the researchers concluded.
An extension to this study, on the expression of genes over a lifetime, showed that "older neurons express genes in different proportions than younger (genes)." In other words, it is possible that older cells are "more vulnerable to disease." Aging is just one of the factor that affects gene expression, but it is a stepping stone to knowing more about diseases in specific, specialized cells in the brain.
This is great research in the field of neurology, neuroscience, and brain diseases. Knowing the root of a potential life-threatening brain disease comes from, molecularly, could be great information to have for researchers and doctors.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/11/181127131603.htm
https://www.dictionary.com/browse/stimuli
https://qbi.uq.edu.au/brain/brain-anatomy/what-neuron

Blonde Genes,Do You Want Them?

Even people that are related and look exactly alike possess a very vast range of genetic variations in their DNA, genes that are responsible for how their body will develop, or responds to outer stimuli. Some of these different variants are known as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). The chemical units that make up DNA are represented by the letters A,T,C, and G. Although most people may carry a C at a specific place in their DNA, some might have a T instead. There have been millions of SNPs discovered in people's DNA. Some of them may be linked to increasing the chances of getting a certain disease. However, others may affect height or a person's appearance.

Previous research has linked a specific SNP with blonde hair in European people. Now Kingsley's group has provided proof that the SNP that induced blonde hair lies within a piece of DNA that is known as an enhancer. Enhancers are pieces of stretched DNA that behave somewhat like light switches, which allows the gene to turn on under certain conditions. They are located far far away from genes, It is like a light switch in England controlling a bulb in California. Although there is quite some distance, they still have the ability to control the gene's activity.

Kingsley's team genetically modified mice to carry the blonde enhancer. As expected, mice carrying that DNA change began to develop light-colored fur coats compared to the mice with another type of that enhancer. This new enhancer has the ability to control the action of a gene that was already known for affecting hair color. This can ultimately lead to less pigment production in the hair follicles, which will lead to lighter hair. This cannot affect eye or skin color.

I believe this is a great opportunity for those people who have an issue with their hair color. If they do not want their kids to have that hair color, this can be a way out for them.

"Painful Touch" Proteins

Recent developments have been made on specific proteins in the outer membranes that correspond to pressure, pain, heat, cold, and other stimuli.  Based on research evidence, presented in an article in Science Daily, a specific family of sensory nerve proteins, piezo proteins have been discovered to to be essential to the sensation of painful touch.  The piezo protein is an exceptionally strong candidate for pressure-transducing ion channel proteins in mammals.  Experiments in the new study are conducted on fruit flies, who also express the piezo protein, which provide a model system for the sensory nervous system in mammals.

Patapoutian, a scientist, has a laboratory that specializes in the study of sensory ion channel proteins.  In the first study conducted within the new study on the piezo protein in Patapoutian's lab it was confirmed that piezo proteins are indeed very large ion channel proteins.  The second study conducted within the new study was done on Drosophila fruit flies.  A line of genetically engineered fruit flies were created without the piezo protein.  The larvae of these flies showed a loss of responsiveness to mechanical stimuli-that should cause pain, yet responded normally to other kinds of stimuli.  Some of the larvae born without the piezo protein were reinstated with dpiezo.  These larvae demonstrated normal sensitivity to strong pressure.

Although scientists believe this protein very likely contributes to pressure-transduction, future studies on roles of piezo proteins in sensing sound, blood pressure and related stimuli that press and/or stretch cell membranes will be conducted.  This is a huge advancement in the understanding of stimuli and how we receive outside messages and transmit them to the brain.  I find it very interesting that the understanding of how the human body works advances over time and never ceases to a halt.