Recycling endosomes supply AMPA receptors for LTP

Long-term potentiation (LTP) of synaptic strength, the most established cellular model of information storage in the brain, is expressed by an increase in the number of postsynaptic AMPA receptors. However, the source of AMPA receptors mobilized during LTP is unknown. We report that AMPA receptors are transported from recycling endosomes to the plasma membrane for LTP. Stimuli that triggered LTP promoted not only AMPA receptor insertion but also generalized recycling of cargo and membrane from endocytic compartments. Thus, recycling endosomes supply AMPA receptors for LTP and provide a mechanistic link between synaptic potentiation and membrane remodeling during synapse modification.     

Functional asymmetry of the human brain

Verbal and nonverbal memorization skills were tested before and after electroconvulsive shocks to the left, right, or both cerebral hemispheres of neurologically normal patients. As predicted, decrements for the left-hemisphere-shocked group were larger on the verbal than nonverbal tasks, while the reverse was true for the right-hemisphere-shocked group. Largest decrements on both tasks were shown by the bilaterally shocked group.     

Algal biomass accrual in relation to nutrient availability and limitation along a longitudinal gradient of a karst riverine system

Textural property of surimi products is a prime factor in determining the acceptability of consumer as well as market value. Gelatin is one of the most popular biopolymers widely used in food industry as gelling agent with the unique textural properties. Therefore, the addition of gelatin along with the use of protein cross-linkers could be a means to modify the texture of surimi gel, which can fit the demand of consumers. Surimi from the threadfin bream (Nemipterus bleekeri) was added with bovine gelatin (BG) and bovine/fish gelatin mix (BFGM; 1:1, 2:1, 1:2, 4:1, and 1:4) at 10% protein substitution in combination with and without microbial transglutaminase (MTGase) at 1.2 units/g surimi. Textural properties, whiteness, expressible moisture content, protein pattern, and microstructure and sensory properties of gels were determined. When MTGase at 1.2 units/g surimi was incorporated, the increases in breaking force and deformation were noticeable in both surimi gels, with and without 10% BG added ( p < 0.05). On the other hand, surimi gels added with BFGM at all bovine/fish gelatin ratios had the higher breaking force and deformation, compared with that added with BG, when MTGase was incorporated. Addition of BG or BFGM lowered the expressible moisture content and whiteness of surimi gel ( p < 0.05). Based on SDS-PAGE, band intensity of myosin heavy chain and actin of surimi gel decreased when surimi gel was added with all gelatins, regardless of MTGase addition. The microstructure study revealed that surimi gel network became finer and denser with the addition of MTGase (1.2 units/g surimi), but the coarser and irregular structure was obtained when gelatin was incorporated. Gelatin, especially bovine/fish gelatin mix, at an appropriate level could be used as the protein additive in surumi gel in conjunction with MTGase in order to improve the textural and nutritive properties of the products.