Engineering memory with an extrinsically disordered kinase

Synaptic plasticity plays a crucial role in memory formation by regulating the communication between neurons. Although actin polymerization has been linked to synaptic plasticity and dendritic spine stability, the causal link between actin polymerization and memory encoding has not been identified yet. It is not clear whether actin polymerization and structural changes in dendritic spines are a driver or a consequence of learning and memory. Using an extrinsically disordered form of the protein kinase LIMK1, which rapidly and precisely acts on ADF/cofilin, a direct modifier of actin, we induced long-term enlargement of dendritic spines and enhancement of synaptic transmission in the hippocampus on command. The activation of extrinsically disordered LIMK1 in vivo improved memory encoding and slowed cognitive decline in aged mice exhibiting reduced cofilin phosphorylation. The engineered memory by an extrinsically disordered LIMK1 supports a direct causal link between actin-mediated synaptic transmission and memory

Antioxidants can inhibit basal autophagy and enhance neurodegeneration in models of polyglutamine disease.

Many neurodegenerative diseases exhibit protein accumulation and increased oxidative stress. Therapeutic strategies include clearing aggregate-prone proteins by enhancing autophagy or decreasing oxidative stress with antioxidants. Many autophagy-inducing stimuli increase reactive oxygen species (ROS), raising concerns that the benefits of autophagy up-regulation may be counterbalanced by ROS toxicity. Here we show that not all autophagy inducers significantly increase ROS. However, many antioxidants inhibit both basal and induced autophagy. By blocking autophagy, antioxidant drugs can increase the levels of aggregate-prone proteins associated with neurodegenerative disease. In fly and zebrafish models of Huntington's disease, antioxidants exacerbate the disease phenotype and abrogate the rescue seen with autophagy-inducing agents. Thus, the potential benefits in neurodegenerative diseases of some classes of antioxidants may be compromised by their autophagy-blocking properties

Engineering memory with an extrinsically disordered kinase

: Synaptic plasticity plays a crucial role in memory formation by regulating the communication between neurons. Although actin polymerization has been linked to synaptic plasticity and dendritic spine stability, the causal link between actin polymerization and memory encoding has not been identified yet. It is not clear whether actin polymerization and structural changes in dendritic spines are a driver or a consequence of learning and memory. Using an extrinsically disordered form of the protein kinase LIMK1, which rapidly and precisely acts on ADF/cofilin, a direct modifier of actin, we induced long-term enlargement of dendritic spines and enhancement of synaptic transmission in the hippocampus on command. The activation of extrinsically disordered LIMK1 in vivo improved memory encoding and slowed cognitive decline in aged mice exhibiting reduced cofilin phosphorylation. The engineered memory by an extrinsically disordered LIMK1 supports a direct causal link between actin-mediated synaptic transmission and memory

ANÁLISE DA SITUAÇÃO DE VULNERABILIDADE SOCIAL NO CONTEXTO DA ASSISTÊNCIA ESTUDANTIL DO IFRJ ‒ CAMPUS REALENGO: BUROCRATIZAR OU HUMANIZAR OS PROCESSOS DE TRABALHO?

Este artigo busca apresentar as vivências de trabalho do Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia do Rio de Janeiro (IFRJ) ‒ Campus Realengo no programa de assistência estudantil, visando problematizar os principais conceitos dentro da área e o esforço empreendido pela equipe para a construção de diretrizes menos burocráticas na condução da seleção e acompanhamento de estudantes. O trabalho aponta que os processos de trabalho necessitam de contínua revisão e aperfeiçoamento, uma vez que são ressignificados a cada edital mediante as distintas compreensões e experiências vividas pelos estudantes em relação ao pertencimento a classes sociais marginalizadas e vulnerabilizadas. Demonstra-se ainda o trabalho coletivo da equipe na construção de uma proposta que fortaleça a assistência estudantil como direito do estudante, minimizando assim o sentimento de vergonha e constrangimento ao requerer a participação no programa

Black Soldier Fly live larvae as environmental enrichment in medium-growing chicken diet

Introduction. Few studies on the effects of live larvae provision in poultry have been previously conducted [1,2,3]. However, trials on the long-term provision of live larvae in chicken reared for meat consumption have never been performed before. This study evaluated the impact of Black Soldier Fly (BSF) live larvae provision on growth performance and larvae consumption behavior of intermediate-growing strains. Material and methods. A total of 240 Label naked neck birds were reared from 21 to 82 days of age, and four experimental groups (10 birds/pen, 6 replicates/treatment) were considered according to the birds’ gender and larvae provision. Experimental groups were fed 10% supplementation of BSF live larvae based on the daily feed intake. The live weight (LW), feed conversion ratio (FCR), average daily feed intake (ADFI) and average daily gain (ADG) were evaluated considering two periods: 21-35d and 35-82d. The larvae were provided daily and consumption times were analyzed considering periods of 10 days (5 time frame-T1,T2,T3,T4,T5). Data were analyzed by means of a GLMM (SPSS software, P<0.05). Results. The larvae groups displayed a lower ADFI than the control groups regardless the birds’ gender at 21-35d (P=0.01). This could be explained by the larvae nutritional contribution that led to a lower feed consumption in the experimental groups. Moreover, treated birds revealed a lower FCR than control groups (21-35d; P<0.001). Otherwise, only treated males performed a better FCR than control groups during the second period (P<0.01). Overall, time of larvae consumption at T1 and T5was respectively higher and lower than the other considered periods in both sexes (P<0.05). Such differences could be related to a progressive birds’ adaptation to larvae consumption. Significant differences between sexes were recorded only at T5, when females employed much time than males in larvae consumption (P<0.05). Conclusion. Live larvae provision ameliorated both the ADFI and FCR. Furthermore, the time of larvae consumption shrinked as birds became older. References. [1] Star L. et al. (2020). Animals. 10,216. [2] Bellezza Oddon et al. (2021). J. Anim. Physiol. Anim. 00,1–9. [3] Veldkamp T. and T.G.C.M. Van Niekerk (2019). J. Insects as Food Feed. 5,301-31

Complex inhibitory effects of nitric oxide on autophagy.

Autophagy, a major degradation process for long-lived and aggregate-prone proteins, affects various human processes, such as development, immunity, cancer, and neurodegeneration. Several autophagy regulators have been identified in recent years. Here we show that nitric oxide (NO), a potent cellular messenger, inhibits autophagosome synthesis via a number of mechanisms. NO impairs autophagy by inhibiting the activity of S-nitrosylation substrates, JNK1 and IKKβ. Inhibition of JNK1 by NO reduces Bcl-2 phosphorylation and increases the Bcl-2-Beclin 1 interaction, thereby disrupting hVps34/Beclin 1 complex formation. Additionally, NO inhibits IKKβ and reduces AMPK phosphorylation, leading to mTORC1 activation via TSC2. Overexpression of nNOS, iNOS, or eNOS impairs autophagosome formation primarily via the JNK1-Bcl-2 pathway. Conversely, NOS inhibition enhances the clearance of autophagic substrates and reduces neurodegeneration in models of Huntington's disease. Our data suggest that nitrosative stress-mediated protein aggregation in neurodegenerative diseases may be, in part, due to autophagy inhibition

The impact of COVID-19 lockdown and of the following "re-opening" period on specific and general psychopathology in people with Eating Disorders: the emergent role of internalizing symptoms

BACKGROUND: We assessed the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on specific Eating Disorder (ED) and general psychopathology in people with an ED diagnosis during the lockdown period and after the end of the related containment measures.METHODS: People with clinically defined diagnosis and undergoing treatment for an ED completed an online survey, which included adapted questions from standardized psychometric scales. Data relative to three different time periods (before, during and after the end of lockdown) were collected. Psychopathological changes over these periods were investigated and compared through one-way analysis of variance or covariance with repeated measures.RESULTS: Three hundred twelve people completed the survey (57.4% diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa (AN) or atypical AN, 20.2% with Bulimia Nervosa, 15.4% with Binge Eating Disorder, 7.05% with Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorders). The severity of both specific and general psychopathology increased during the lockdown and the rise of general symptoms persisted in the following re-opening phase, except for suicide ideation. Almost all of these findings were not affected by ED diagnosis, participants' age and illness duration.LIMITATIONS: The retrospective nature of data collection is the main limitation of the study.CONCLUSIONS: People with EDs showed a COVID-19 emergency-induced worsening of both general and specific psychopathology. The effect on general psychopathology persisted in the re-opening period. These findings suggest a high stress vulnerability of ED individuals with important effects on internalizing symptoms, which are worth of attention by clinicians

Blood chemistry of medium-growing male and female chickens supplemented black soldier fly live larvae

Effects of live larvae provision on poultry chemical blood parameters have been poorly investigated. This study aims to evaluate the changes in blood chemistry parameters in medium-growing chickens supplemented black soldier fly (BSF) live larvae. Two hundred and forty 21d old sexed Label Naked Neck birds were divided into 4 experimental groups: females fed basal organic feed (BOF), males fed BOF, females fed BOF + 10% BSF live larvae supplementation based on the expected daily feed intake (DFI) and males fed BOF + 10% BSF live larvae supplementation based on the DFI (6 replicates/diet, 10 birds/replicate). Blood samples were collected at slaughter (82d old) from 2 birds/pen (12 birds/treatment). Serum samples were used for biochemical analysis. A compact liquid chemistry analyzer system (BT 1500 vet–Futurlab) was used to determine the concentrations of alanine aminotransferase (U/I), aspartate aminotransferase (U/I), creatinine total proteins (mg/dl), uric acid (mg/dl), cholesterol (mg/dl), triglycerides (mg/dl), gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT, U/I), phosphorus (mg/dl) and magnesium (mg/dl). Data were analyzed by GLMM (SPSS software, P<0.05). Overall, the blood parameters were not affected by the live larvae supplementation (P>0.05) in both sexes, thus being indicative of a good health status of the birds. Moreover, the GGT was detected in lower concentrations in the supplemented groups than in the control groups (P<0.05), suggesting a positive effect on the hepatic function. In conclusion, the live BSF larvae provision did not negatively affect the blood parameters of medium-growing chickens and could be beneficial for bird hepatic activity

Blood chemistry of medium-growing male and female chickens supplemented black soldier fly live larvae

Effects of live larvae provision on poultry chemical blood parameters have been poorly investigated. This study aims to evaluate the changes in blood chemistry parameters in medium-growing chickens supplemented black soldier fly (BSF) live larvae. Two hundred and forty 21d old sexed Label Naked Neck birds were divided into 4 experimental groups: females fed basal organic feed (BOF), males fed BOF, females fed BOF + 10% BSF live larvae supplementation based on the expected daily feed intake (DFI) and males fed BOF + 10% BSF live larvae supplementation based on the DFI (6 replicates/diet, 10 birds/replicate). Blood samples were collected at slaughter (82d old) from 2 birds/pen (12 birds/treatment). Serum samples were used for biochemical analysis. A compact liquid chemistry analyzer system (BT 1500 vet–Futurlab) was used to determine the concentrations of alanine aminotransferase (U/I), aspartate aminotransferase (U/I), creatinine total proteins (mg/dl), uric acid (mg/dl), cholesterol (mg/dl), triglycerides (mg/dl), gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT, U/I), phosphorus (mg/dl) and magnesium (mg/dl). Data were analyzed by GLMM (SPSS software, P<0.05). Overall, the blood parameters were not affected by the live larvae supplementation (P>0.05) in both sexes, thus being indicative of a good health status of the birds. Moreover, the GGT was detected in lower concentrations in the supplemented groups than in the control groups (P<0.05), suggesting a positive effect on the hepatic function. In conclusion, the live BSF larvae provision did not negatively affect the blood parameters of medium-growing chickens and could be beneficial for bird hepatic activity