However, whether CRMP4 is involved in MAG-mediated axon protection signaling remains unclear. Here, we show involvement of CRMP4 in MAG-induced inhibition of axonal outgrowth and axonal protection using the CRMP4-/- mouse model. In dorsal
root ganglion (DRG) neurons, loss of CRMP4 prevents MAG-induced inhibition of axonal outgrowth and growth cone collapse and increases sensitivity to microtubule destabilizing factor Vincristine (VNC)-induced axonal degeneration. MAG-mediated axon protection against VNC is suppressed GSK126 in vivo in CRMP4-/- DRG neurons. Understanding the molecular mechanism of MAG-mediated inhibition and protection via CRMP4 may provide novel opportunities to control axonal degeneration and regeneration. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Objectives: Based on the hypothesis of NMDA receptor hypofunction in schizophrenia, plasma glycine, L-serine, and D-serine levels have been studied, since they could serve as biological markers. However, changes over time in the levels of these amino acids in schizophrenic patients have not been investigated. To clarify the mean plasma glycine, L-serine, and D-serine levels see more in patients with schizophrenia, levels of these amino acids
were compared between healthy controls and patients with schizophrenia. The plasma levels of these amino acids during the clinical course of schizophrenia were also compared.
Methods:
Eighty-nine Japanese patients with schizophrenia and 50 age- and gender-matched healthy controls were studied. Plasma glycine, L-serine, and D-serine levels and their ratios were measured twice, during the acute stage and during the remission stage, using high-performance liquid chromatography.
Results: The admission plasma glycine, L-serine, and D-serine levels of schizophrenic patients were higher than those of healthy controls. There were no significant differences between drug-naive BAY 1895344 cost patients and healthy controls in the admission levels of the plasma amino acids, but chronically medicated patients had higher admission plasma glycine and D-serine levels. Only the D-serine level and the D-/L-serine ratio were markedly significantly increased in schizophrenic patients from the time of admission to the time of discharge as their clinical symptoms improved. in addition, the increase in the Plasma D-serine levels of drug-naive patients was correlated with improvements in positive symptoms.
Conclusions: Plasma amino acid levels, especially D-serine levels, could be useful as a “”therapeutic”" or “”clinical state”" marker in patients with acute schizophrenia. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.”
“Biofuels derived from marine algae are a potential source of sustainable energy that can contribute to future global demands.