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PLOS Biology: New Articles
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Refining the sleep circuits one neuron at a time
by Giorgio F. Gilestro
The neural basis of sleep regulation remains elusive. A new study in PLOS Biology refines the key neuronal circuits involved in the regulation of sleep in fruit flies, confirming Drosophila melanogaster as the model of choice for unraveling the systems neuroscience of such a mysterious phenomenon.
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Combining nanobody labeling with STED microscopy reveals input-specific and layer-specific organization of neocortical synapses
by Yeasmin Akter, Grace Jones, Grant J. Daskivich, Victoria Shifflett, Karina J. Vargas, Martin Hruska
The discovery of synaptic nanostructures revealed key insights into the molecular logic of synaptic function and plasticity. Yet, our understanding of how diverse synapses in the brain organize their nano-architecture remains elusive, largely due to the limitations of super-resolution imaging in complex brain tissue. Here, we characterized single-domain camelid nanobodies for the 3D quantitative multiplex imaging of synaptic nano-organization sing tau-STED nanoscopy in cryosections from the mouse primary somatosensory cortex. We focused on thalamocortical (TC) and corticocortical (CC) synapses along the apical-basal axis of layer five pyramidal neurons as models of functionally diverse glutamatergic synapses in the brain. Spines receiving TC input were larger than those receiving CC input in all layers examined. However, the nano-architecture of TC synapses varied with dendritic location. TC afferents on apical dendrites frequently contacted spines with multiple aligned PSD-95/Bassoon nanomodules of constant size. In contrast, TC spines on basal dendrites predominantly contained a single aligned nanomodule, with PSD-95 nanocluster sizes scaling proportionally with spine volume. The nano-organization of CC synapses did not change across cortical layers and resembled modular architecture defined in vitro. These findings highlight the nanoscale diversity of synaptic architecture in the brain, that is, shaped by both the source of afferent input and the subcellular localization of individual synaptic contacts.
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Correction: Predation drives complex eco-evolutionary dynamics in sexually selected traits
by Brian A. Lerch, Maria R. Servedio
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Gas1-high quiescent neural stem cells are multipotent and produce oligodendrocytes during aging and after demyelinating injury
by Chaoqiong Ding, Zhenzhong Pan, Xiang Yan, Ran Zhou, Huifang Li, Lu Chen, Yuan Wang, Yan Zhang
Quiescent neural stem cells (qNSCs) in the adult mouse subventricular zone (SVZ) normally have limited capacity to generate glia. Gliogenic domains are present in both dorsal and ventral SVZ, with the ventral region featuring a subpopulation of Gli1+ qNSCs. In dorsal SVZ, however, the molecular identity and developmental origin of oligodendrogenic qNSCs remains elusive. Here, through single-cell analysis and lineage tracing, we identify an undefined subpopulation of Gas1high qNSCs in dorsal SVZ, distinct from Gli1+ qNSCs. These cells originate from embryonic Gas1high dorsal radial glia, and persist into the aged SVZ. Remarkably, they are multipotent and more gliogenic than Gas1low/− qNSCs, continuously generating oligodendrocytes in the adult and aged brain, and can be mobilized for myelin repair upon demyelination. Together, our study uncovers a subpopulation of dorsally derived, multipotent long-term qNSCs in the adult and aged SVZ with enhanced gliogenic potential, shedding light on the heterogeneity and plasticity of NSCs in normal, aging, and disease conditions.
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The end of long-term ecological data?
by Daniel T. Blumstein
Can we ever have too much ecological field data? Are data-sharing norms and the environmental costs of travel disincentivizing its collection? Allocating proper funding and resources to the collection of long-term ecological data is essential for studies of behavior and adaptation, which are particularly important in the face of anthropogenic change.