Neurobiology

Lipid biomarkers hold clues to stroke recovery
Scientists at the University of Arizona found that a lipid mediator accumulates with the waves of inflammation associated with stroke and foamy macrophages.

From the JBC archives: Madness, indoles and mercury-based cathartics
A 1907 paper sought to resolve an ongoing question of whether indole, a bacterial molecule in the gut, could cause insanity if overproduced.

Mutant RNA exosome protein linked to neurodevelopmental defects
Researchers at Emory University find that a missense mutation impairs RNA exosome assembly and translation and causes neurological disease.

Adults grow new brain cells
How does the rare birth of these new neurons contribute to cognitive function?

Does a protein hold the key to Alzheimer’s?
Researchers in Maryland and Massachusetts team up to study how SORL1 promotes tau trafficking and seeding in cells that leads to the neurodegenerative disorder.

Elucidating how chemotherapy induces neurotoxicity
Andre Nussenzweig will receive the Bert and Natalie Vallee Award at the 2025 ASBMB Annual Meeting, April 12–15 in Chicago.

The decision to eat may come down to these three neurons
The circuit that connects a hunger-signaling hormone to the jaw to stimulate chewing movements is surprisingly simple, Rockefeller University researchers have found.

Finding a missing piece for neurodegenerative disease research
Ursula Jakob and a team at the University of Michigan have found that the molecule polyphosphate could be what scientists call the “mystery density” inside fibrils associated with Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and related conditions.

What I’ve learned about water, aging and protein quality control
Alice Liu thought an increase in heat shock protein chaperones would prevent misfolding in Huntington’s disease proteins. The results surprised her, and water was the key.