Presynaptic α2δ subunits are key organizers of glutamatergic synapses
By Clemens L. Schöpf, Cornelia Ablinger, Stefanie M. Geisler, Ruslan I. Stanika, Marta Campiglio, Walter A. Kaufmann, Benedikt Nimmervoll, Bettina Schlick, Johannes Brockhaus, Markus Missler, Ryuichi Shigemoto, and Gerald J. Obermair Excerpt from the article published in PNAS (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences) March 29, 2021 | 118 (14) e1920827118 | https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1920827118 Editor’s […]
Continue ReadingStructural and Functional Significance of the Endoplasmic Reticulum Unfolded Protein Response Transducers and Chaperones at the Mitochondria–ER Contacts: A Cancer Perspective
By Giuseppina Amodio, Valentina Pagliara, Ornella Moltedo, and Paolo Remondelli Excerpt from the article published in Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology, volume 9, 26 March 2021 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fcell.2021.641194 Editor’s Highlights The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) presides over the biogenesis and maintenance of almost all the cell compartment and is associated to protein synthesis and translocation. Membrane contact […]
Continue ReadingNociceptive TRP Channels and Sex Steroids
By Óscar Enciso-Pablo, Karina Angélica Méndez-Reséndiz, Tamara Rosenbaum, and Sara Luz Morales-Lázaro Excerpt from the article published in Reproductive Hormones, edited by Courtney Marsh. London: IntechOpen, March 24th, 2021. DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.95552 Editor’s Highlights Several experiments made in pain animal models have demonstrated the existence of sexual dimorphism in response to pain. Rats from a diabetic […]
Continue ReadingDifferential gene expression by RNA-Seq in Sigma-2 Receptor/TMEM97 knockout cells reveals its role in complement activation and SARS-CoV-2 viral uptake
By Aladdin Riad, Yann Aubert, Chenbo Zeng, Thomas J. A. Graham, E. James Petersson, Brian C. Capell, and Robert H. Mach Excerpt from the article published in bioRxiv 2021.03.14.435180; Posted March 15, 2021; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.03.14.435180 Editor’s Highlights Sigma-2R/TMEM97 has been shown to be involved with cholesterol homeostasis and metabolism through its interaction with the cholesterol transport-regulating protein Niemann-Pick C1 (NPC1) and through the sterol response element-binding protein (SREBP) pathway. Sigma-2R/TMEM97 regulates […]
Continue ReadingGenetic inactivation of the sigma-1 chaperone protein results in decreased expression of the R2 subunit of the GABA-B receptor and increased susceptibility to seizures
By Edijs Vavers, Baiba Zvejniece, Gundega Stelfa, Baiba Svalbe, Karlis Vilks, Einars Kupats, Rudolfs Mezapuke, Lasma Lauberte, Maija Dambrova, and Liga Zvejniece Excerpt from the article published in Neurobiology of Disease, Volume 150, 2021, 105244, ISSN 0969-9961, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nbd.2020.105244. Editor’s Highlights The sigma-1 chaperone protein, also known as the sigma-1 receptor (Sig1R), in the cell plays […]
Continue ReadingThe Sigma-2 Receptor / Transmembrane protein 97 (σ2R/TMEM97) Modulator JVW-1034 Reduces Heavy Alcohol Drinking and Associated Pain States in Male Mice
By Sema G. Quadir, Sean M. Tanino, Christian D. Rohl, James J. Sahn, Emily J. Yao, Luíza dos Reis Cruz, Pietro Cottone, Stephen F. Martin, and Valentina Sabino Excerpt from the article published in Neuropharmacology, Volume 184, 108409, 15 February 2021. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropharm.2020.108409. Author manuscript available at NCBI HHS public access: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7856185/ Editor’s Highlights Abstract Alcohol Use Disorder […]
Continue ReadingNegative Impact of Sigma-1 Receptor Agonist Treatment on Tissue Integrity and Motor Function Following Spinal Cord Injury
By Alise Lattard, Gaëtan Poulen, Sylvain Bartolami, Yannick N. Gerber, and Florence E. Perrin Excerpt from the article published in Frontiers in Pharmacology, 10 February 2021Sec. Neuropharmacology, Volume 12 – 2021, DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2021.614949 Editors Highlights Abstract In traumatic spinal cord injury, the initial trauma is followed by a cascade of impairments, including excitotoxicity and calcium […]
Continue ReadingTMEM97 increases in synapses and is a potential synaptic Aβ binding partner in human Alzheimer’s disease
By Martí Colom-Cadena, Jane Tulloch, Rosemary J Jackson, James H Catterson, Jamie Rose, Caitlin Davies, Monique Hooley, Alejandro Anton-Fernandez, Sophie Dunnett, Robert Tempelaar, Makis Tzioras, Nicholas J Izzo, Susan M. Catalano, Colin Smith, and Tara L. Spires-Jones Excerpt from the article published in bioRxiv 2021.02.01, 428238; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.02.01.428238 Editor’s Highlights Abstract Synapse loss correlates with cognitive decline in […]
Continue ReadingSigma-2 receptor antagonists rescue neuronal dysfunction induced by Parkinson’s patient brain-derived α-synuclein
By Colleen S. Limegrover, Raymond Yurko, Nicholas J. Izzo, Kelsie M. LaBarbera, Courtney Rehak, Gary Look, Gilbert Rishton, Hank Safferstein, and Susan M. Catalano Excerpt from the article published in Journals of Neuroscience Research; 99: 1161– 1176, 22 January 2021, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/jnr.24782 Editor’s Highlights Oligomeric α-synuclein proteins found in Parkinson’s disease patient brain tissue cause neuron dysfunction. α-synuclein […]
Continue ReadingRole of Sigma-1 Receptor in Calcium Modulation: Possible Involvement in Cancer
By Ilaria Pontisso, and Laurent Combettes Excerpt from the article published in Genes (Basel). 2021 Jan 22;12(2):139. PMID: 33499031; PMCID: PMC7911422. DOI: 10.3390/genes12020139 Editor’s Highlights Calcium (Ca2+) plays a fundamental role as a second messenger. One important site for Ca2+ regulation is the interface between the ER and the mitochondria, the so-called mitochondrial-associated membranes (MAMs). The sigma-1 […]
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