Neurogenomics – News and Features

Taken together, rapamycin and trametinib were found to extend the lifespan of mice by around 30 percent and work better than either of the drugs alone.

Researchers introduced three TRIO gene variants into mice, showing how each mutation led to brain size reduction and altered behavior, with differences in neuronal signaling via Rac1 activity.

A study highlights how the molecule NEAT1 contributes to photophobia in migraines. By affecting a gene linked to pain, NEAT1 increases nerve sensitivity to light.

A study from the Institute for Basic Science discovered the role of mini-exon B in brain connectivity and function. This microexon, part of the PTPδ gene, influences synapse formation and behavior.

Researchers have developed a new set of gene delivery tools designed to target specific cell types in the human brain and spinal cord. The toolkit represents an advance toward gene therapies that could selective modify brain activity.

A Japanese research team profiled genome-wide DNA methylation in the dorsal raphe nucleus of autism and control brains. They discovered abnormal methylation in genes related to sensory processing and serotonin signaling.

A study from NTNU reveals that JAK inhibitors, prescribed for autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, may suppress the body’s antiviral defenses, making patients more vulnerable to viruses like influenza and SARS-CoV-2.

In this op-ed, Charles Gersbach explores how genetic tuning is emerging as a next-generation approach to modulating gene expression.

A new study finds that RNA editing by ADAR1 in astrocytes contributes to neuroinflammation in Parkinson’s disease. Using patient-derived iPSC models, researchers show how ADAR1 promotes inflammation by focusing on genes involved in immune responses.

Reduced levels of the TDP-43 protein have been linked to brain diseases like Alzheimer’s, frontotemporal dementia and ALS, through its link to the brain's blood vessels.