Neural circuit development in the human cortex is considerably prolonged in comparison to non-human primates, a trait that contributes to the remarkable cognitive capacity of modern humans. Here, we explore the regulatory role of non-coding RNAs, which dramatically expanded during brain evolution, in synapse development of human induced pluripotent stem-cell derived neurons. We found that inhibition of a human-specific microRNA, miR-1229-3p, alters the trajectory of human neuronal maturation and enhances excitatory synaptic transmission. Transcriptome analysis following miR-1229 knockdown revealed a downregulation of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) encoded genes. We further show that miR-1229 regulates mitochondrial morphology, mtDNA abundance as well as mitophagy, and that stimulation of mitochondrial metabolism rescues decreased calcium buffering in miR-1229-3p depleted neurons. Accordingly, miR-1229 directly targets an entire network of genes involved in mitochondrial function and ER

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Vascular PRMT5 restricts inhibitory input to the cerebellum to support fine motor coordination.

Vascular PRMT5 restricts inhibitory input to the cerebellum to support fine motor coordination.

Astrocytes play critical roles in regulating neuronal synaptogenesis, maintaining blood–brain barrier integrity, and recycling neurotransmitters. Increasing numbers of studies have suggested astrocyte...

Read the full paper: The lncRNA Statera regulates synaptogenesis by repressing the retrotransposon copia in Drosophila

Read the full paper: The Cytoplasmic MicroRNA‐Production Complex Regulates MicroRNA Sorting to Extracellular Vesicles During Synaptogenesis

Subjects with diabetes have an increased risk of dementia, Parkinson’s disease, and stroke. In the central nervous system, there is increased inflammation, blood–brain barrier permeability, amyloid-β and α-synuclein deposition, and decreased neuronal synaptogenesis and survival. The role of hexokinases in controlling glucose metabolism therein is often overlooked. We propose that hexokinase-2 dysfunction-driven glycolytic overload is critically involved. This increases glycolytic intermediates in astrocytes, microglial cells, microvessel endothelial cells, and pericytes, stimulating mitochondrial dysfunction, protein O-linked β-N-acetylglucosaminylation, protein kinase C phosphorylation, and methylglyoxal-induced unfolded protein response and NOD-, LRR-, and pyrin domain-containing protein 3 inflammasome activation. Therapeutic prevention is achieved through activation of transcription factor nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2, increasing the expression of glucose-6-phosphate (G6P) dehydrogenase, glyoxalase 1, and antioxidant enzymes. This diverts excess G6P to the pentose phosphate pathway, methylglyoxal to the glyoxalase pathway, and counters oxidative stress, respectively.