Neuronal O-GlcNAcylation Improves Cognitive Function in the Aged Mouse Brain.

Mounting evidence in animal models indicates potential for rejuvenation of cellular and cognitive functions in the aging brain. However, the ability to utilize this potential is predicated on identifying molecular targets that reverse the effects of aging in vulnerable regions of the brain, such as the hippocampus. The dynamic post-translational modification O-linked N-Acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) has emerged as an attractive target for regulating aging-specific synaptic alterations as well as neurodegeneration. While speculation exists about the role of O-GlcNAc in neurodegenerative conditions, such as Alzheimer's disease, its role in physiological brain aging remains largely unexplored. Here, we report that countering age-related decreased O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) expression and O-GlcNAcylation ameliorates cognitive impairments in aged mice. Mimicking an aged condition in young adults by abrogating OGT, using a temporally controlled neuron-specific conditional knockout mouse model, recapitulated cellular and cognitive features of brain aging. Conversely, overexpressing OGT in mature hippocampal neurons using a viral-mediated approach enhanced associative fear memory in young adult mice. Excitingly, in aged mice overexpressing neuronal OGT in the aged hippocampus rescued in part age-related impairments in spatial learning and memory as well as associative fear memory. Our data identify O-GlcNAcylaton as a key molecular mediator promoting cognitive rejuvenation

BioScore: A tool to assess the impacts of European Community policies on Europe's biodiversity

BioScore offers a European biodiversity impact assessment tool. The tool contains indicator values on the ecological preferences of more than 1000 species of birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles, fish, butterflies, dragonflies, aquatic macro-invertebrates and vascular plants. These values are linked to policy-related pressures and environmental variables

Glossaire illustré sur les formes d’altération de la pierre

The ICOMOS International Scientific Committee for Stone (ISCS) is providing a forum for the interchange of experience, ideas, and knowledge in the field of stone conservation. ISCS aims at facilitating the publication, dissemination and presentation of state of the art reviews on pre-identified issues. Simplification and demystification of scientific information for practitioners are also part of the main goals of the group. In studies on stone deterioration and conservation, terminological confusions lead to major communication problems between scientists, conservators and practitioners. In this context, it is of primary importance to set up a common language; if degradation patterns can be shown, named and described, then they can be recognised and compared with similar ones in a more accurate way in further investigations. The ISCS glossary constitutes an important tool for scientific discussions on decay phenomena and processes. It is also an excellent basis for tutorials on stone deterioration. It is based on the careful examination of pre-existing glossaries of English terms. It does not aim at replacing these glossaries, often set up originally in a language other than English, and for most of them done to a high standard. As President of ICOMOS I would like to congratulate the International Scientific Committee for Stone and its President Véronique Verges-Belmin for the results of years of research presented in this publication. Stone conservation is a crucial topic in monument conservation and many of our National Committees all over the world hope for advice and help from the specialists familiar with traditional and modern methods of conservation. The Illustrated Glossary on Stone Deterioration Patterns offers a wide range of suggestions and practical advice. Probably, after the English-French version becomes available the Glossary will also be translated into other languages. In view of the accelerating decay of our stone monuments worldwide this is an exemplary contribution which will promote the international cooperation so important in this field.peer-reviewe

Neue Vogelarten aus Amazonien

Volume: 22Start Page: 39End Page: 4

Neue Vogelarten aus Amazonien

Volume: 20Start Page: 153End Page: 15