Here we demonstrated that Notch/RBP-J signaling is activated in NG2(+) glial progenitors and reactive astrocytes such as GFAP(+) cells, Nestin(+) cells and RC2(+) cells, using Notch/RBP-J signaling reporter mice. 3-day DAPT treatment reduced the buy PF-02341066 number of reactive astrocytes but not NG2(+) glial progenitors. BrdU labeling experiments have shown that this reduction was due to decreased proliferation of reactive astrocytes. DAPT inhibited nuclear-translocation

of Olig2, which is indispensable for proliferation and differentiation of reactive astrocytes. These findings suggest that Notch signaling might promote proliferation and differentiation of reactive astrocytes through the regulation of nucleo-cytoplasmic translocation of Olig2. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd and the Japan Neuroscience Society. All rights reserved.”
“Aims: To develop a simple, high-throughput and inexpensive procedure to detect and quantify aflatoxins into the culture media of growing mycelia. Methods and Results: Fungal conidia (Aspergillus flavus) were inoculated into the wells of a microplate containing 200 mu l of different formulations of coconut-derived liquid medium. Time-dependent production of PD0332991 supplier aflatoxins in the culture media was evaluated by a procedure relying on the UV-induced fluorescence emission by the toxin, using a microplate reader. These data were validated by comparison

with the outputs of a conventional HPLC-based procedure. Determinations of aflatoxin concentration, according to the fluorimetric procedure, were performed either by withdrawing samples from the plates or by direct in situ readings, the latter method reinforcing the high-throughput Dimethyl sulfoxide feature of the procedure. Fluorescence enhancers (cyclodextrins) did not ameliorate the sensitivity of the procedure to low concentrations of the toxin into the medium. The efficacy of the procedure was also

validated by testing the effect on toxin yield of adding an antioxidant agent (a-lipoic acid) to the medium. Conclusions: We give evidence that our improved procedure is reliable and suitable to analyse aflatoxin accumulation time course in coconut-derived culture medium. Significance and Impact of the Study: This study shows that our procedure may profitably be used to give insights into the mechanisms of regulation of mycotoxin production and, consequently, to implement different strategies for the containment of aflatoxin contamination of food and feed commodities.”
“UCHL1/PGP 9.5 (also known as UCHL1 and PGP 9.5) was first detected as a “”brain-specific protein”" over 28 years ago. The protein is highly conserved and localized in neurones and neuroendocrine cells in vertebrates, forming an estimated 5-10% of cytoplasmic protein. A minor proportion in brain is tightly membrane-bound and the protein is also found in human oocytes and spermatogonia. A few specialised neurones lack UCHL1/PGP 9.5 and possibly replaceable neurones have low levels of the protein. UCHL1/PGP 9.