A missense mutation in Katnal1 underlies behavioural, neurological and ciliary anomalies

Microtubule severing enzymes implement a diverse range of tissue-specific molecular functions throughout development and into adulthood. Although microtubule severing is fundamental to many dynamic neural processes, little is known regarding the role of the family member Katanin p60 subunit A-like 1, KATNAL1, in central nervous system (CNS) function. Recent studies reporting that microdeletions incorporating the KATNAL1 locus in humans result in intellectual disability and microcephaly suggest that KATNAL1 may play a prominent role in the CNS; however, such associations lack the functional data required to highlight potential mechanisms which link the gene to disease symptoms. Here we identify and characterise a mouse line carrying a loss of function allele in Katnal1. We show that mutants express behavioural deficits including in circadian rhythms, sleep, anxiety and learning/memory. Furthermore, in the brains of Katnal1 mutant mice we reveal numerous morphological abnormalities and defects in neuronal migration and morphology. Furthermore we demonstrate defects in the motile cilia of the ventricular ependymal cells of mutants, suggesting a role for Katnal1 in the development of ciliary function. We believe the data we present here are the first to associate KATNAL1 with such phenotypes, demonstrating that the protein plays keys roles in a number of processes integral to the development of neuronal function and behaviour.Molecular Psychiatry advance online publication, 4 April 2017; doi:10.1038/mp.2017.54

Health LEADS Australia and interprofessional education

Modern health services are amongst the most complex systems in the world and this complexity places huge demands on those identified as leaders. The image of the individual trailblazing leader, much valued in the business world, has also been pervasive within healthcare environments in Australia and beyond (Fulop and Day, 2010). This model focuses on the capacity-building of individuals as leaders so that they take on a mantle of heroic characteristics and traits, managing teams, juggling budgets and driving development of service policies and procedures. The emphasis is on one individual to manage the organizational challenges of an entire service or team, the hero-leader, the one person at the top of a hierarchy who works alone to take his/her followers to new heights (Dickson and Tholl, 2014)

Mycorrhiza in Mixed Plantations

International audienceMycorrhiza is a mutualistic symbiosis found in about 90% of the terrestrial plants. The arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) and ectomycorrhiza (ECM), present in Eucalypt and Acacia, are the most studied in forests due to their importance in ecosystem productivity and sustainability in forestry. Here, our focus is to show recent results regarding their incidence, diversity, and functioning in planted forests, mainly those of Eucalyptus and Acacia spp. in consortia. Until recently, everybody assumed that arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) were restricted to the uppermost 30 cm of soil. Yet, we evaluated their presence at the soil surface and in much deeper layers, since Eucalypt presents a root system that reaches down to about 20 m, still active in acquiring nutrients and water from deep reserves, which is of utmost importance during drought periods. In tropical soils of low pH and low fertility, with highly variable moisture levels, mycorrhiza provides better growth and higher tolerance to water deficiency and high temperatures, protection against pathogens, and greater efficiency in nutrient uptake. In short, mycorrhiza is a key factor of sustainability for Eucalypt stands in monoculture and in mixed plantations, mainly in tropical highly weathered soils