2018
The 7q11.23 Protein DNAJC30 Interacts with ATP Synthase and Links Mitochondria to Brain Development
Tebbenkamp ATN, Varela L, Choi J, Paredes MI, Giani AM, Song JE, Sestan-Pesa M, Franjic D, Sousa AMM, Liu ZW, Li M, Bichsel C, Koch M, Szigeti-Buck K, Liu F, Li Z, Kawasawa YI, Paspalas CD, Mineur YS, Prontera P, Merla G, Picciotto MR, Arnsten AFT, Horvath TL, Sestan N. The 7q11.23 Protein DNAJC30 Interacts with ATP Synthase and Links Mitochondria to Brain Development. Cell 2018, 175: 1088-1104.e23. PMID: 30318146, PMCID: PMC6459420, DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2018.09.014.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCopy number variationsATP synthase dimersOxidative phosphorylation supercomplexesHuman neurodevelopmental disordersATP synthaseWS pathogenesisGene contributionMitochondrial featuresBrain developmentWilliams syndromeMitochondrial dysfunctionNeocortical pyramidal neuronsNeural phenotypesMitochondriaPyramidal neuronsMachineryMorphological featuresNeurodevelopmental disordersDysfunctionSupercomplexesPhenotypeA Neural Circuit for Gut-Induced Reward
Han W, Tellez LA, Perkins MH, Perez IO, Qu T, Ferreira J, Ferreira TL, Quinn D, Liu ZW, Gao XB, Kaelberer MM, Bohórquez DV, Shammah-Lagnado SJ, de Lartigue G, de Araujo IE. A Neural Circuit for Gut-Induced Reward. Cell 2018, 175: 665-678.e23. PMID: 30245012, PMCID: PMC6195474, DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2018.08.049.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSubstantia nigraVagal sensory gangliaVagal sensory neuronsTransneuronal labelingTransneuronal tracingVagal originBrain axisGlutamatergic neuronsSelf-stimulation behaviorParabrachial regionSensory gangliaDopamine cellsObligatory relayDopamine releaseSensory neuronsRewarding effectsNeuronal circuitryPlace preferenceReward pathwayNeural circuitsNeuronsStimulation approachesReward neuronsMajor regulatorNigraEndometriosis alters brain electrophysiology, gene expression and increases pain sensitization, anxiety, and depression in female mice†
Li T, Mamillapalli R, Ding S, Chang H, Liu ZW, Gao XB, Taylor HS. Endometriosis alters brain electrophysiology, gene expression and increases pain sensitization, anxiety, and depression in female mice†. Biology Of Reproduction 2018, 99: 349-359. PMID: 29425272, PMCID: PMC6692844, DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioy035.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsEffect of endometriosisPain sensitizationPain perceptionBrain electrophysiologyEstrogen-dependent inflammatory disorderReproductive-aged womenDetection of endometriosisRegions of brainPatch-clamp recordingsCentral sensitizationPelvic painGene expressionInflammatory disordersEndometriosis miceFemale miceSham controlsMood disordersEndometriosisPainClamp recordingsBehavioral testsMiceBrain gene expressionSensitizationElectrophysiology
2017
Plasticity of calcium-permeable AMPA glutamate receptors in Pro-opiomelanocortin neurons
Suyama S, Ralevski A, Liu ZW, Dietrich MO, Yada T, Simonds SE, Cowley MA, Gao XB, Diano S, Horvath TL. Plasticity of calcium-permeable AMPA glutamate receptors in Pro-opiomelanocortin neurons. ELife 2017, 6: e25755. PMID: 28762946, PMCID: PMC5538821, DOI: 10.7554/elife.25755.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsExcitatory postsynaptic currentsPOMC neuronsCP-AMPARsFasted stateAMPAR-mediated excitatory postsynaptic currentsCalcium-permeable AMPA glutamate receptorsInhibition of EPSCsHigh-fat diet exposurePOMC neuronal activityPro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neuronsCalcium-permeable AMPARsElevated leptin levelsAMPA glutamate receptorsAmplitude of mEPSCsFood deprivationEntry of calciumAMPA receptor complexesDiet exposureLeptin levelsPostsynaptic currentsEPSC amplitudeGlutamate receptorsNeuronal activityExtracellular calciumLinear current-voltage relationshipDRP1 Suppresses Leptin and Glucose Sensing of POMC Neurons
Santoro A, Campolo M, Liu C, Sesaki H, Meli R, Liu ZW, Kim JD, Diano S. DRP1 Suppresses Leptin and Glucose Sensing of POMC Neurons. Cell Metabolism 2017, 25: 647-660. PMID: 28190775, PMCID: PMC5366041, DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2017.01.003.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPeroxisome proliferator-activated receptorPOMC neuronsLeptin sensitivityHypothalamic pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neuronsPro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neuronsCounter-regulatory responseProliferator-activated receptorMitochondrial sizeFed miceGlucoprivic stimuliNeuronal activationFl/Glucose metabolismMetabolic environmentNeuronsFasted animalsIntracellular mechanismsReduced expressionGlucose responsivenessGreater activationInducible deletionROS productionMiceStrong inhibitionMitochondrial fission regulator
2016
UCP2 Regulates Mitochondrial Fission and Ventromedial Nucleus Control of Glucose Responsiveness
Toda C, Kim JD, Impellizzeri D, Cuzzocrea S, Liu ZW, Diano S. UCP2 Regulates Mitochondrial Fission and Ventromedial Nucleus Control of Glucose Responsiveness. Cell 2016, 164: 872-883. PMID: 26919426, PMCID: PMC4770556, DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2016.02.010.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSystemic glucose homeostasisMitochondrial fissionCellular biological processesMitochondrial dynamicsGenetic manipulationGlucose homeostasisReactive oxygen speciesBiological processesMitochondrial adaptationsProtein 2Reduced reactive oxygen speciesOxygen speciesHomeostasisCritical roleMetabolic environmentGlucose-excited neuronsGlucose responsivenessFissionNeuronal circuitrySpeciesNeuronsRegulationVMH neuronsGlucose loadPool
2014
O-GlcNAc Transferase Enables AgRP Neurons to Suppress Browning of White Fat
Ruan HB, Dietrich MO, Liu ZW, Zimmer MR, Li MD, Singh JP, Zhang K, Yin R, Wu J, Horvath TL, Yang X. O-GlcNAc Transferase Enables AgRP Neurons to Suppress Browning of White Fat. Cell 2014, 159: 306-317. PMID: 25303527, PMCID: PMC4509746, DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2014.09.010.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAgRP neuronsFundamental cellular processesWhite fatN-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) modificationOrexigenic AgRP neuronsVoltage-dependent potassium channelsCellular processesGlcNAc transferaseDynamic physiological processesNuclear proteinsWhite adipose tissue browningPhysiological processesAdipose tissue browningDiet-induced obesityPhysiological relevanceTissue browningGenetic ablationBeige cellsEnergy metabolismInsulin resistanceNeuronal excitabilityPotassium channelsAdipose tissueCentral mechanismsNeurons
2006
Ghrelin modulates the activity and synaptic input organization of midbrain dopamine neurons while promoting appetite
Abizaid A, Liu ZW, Andrews ZB, Shanabrough M, Borok E, Elsworth JD, Roth RH, Sleeman MW, Picciotto MR, Tschöp MH, Gao XB, Horvath TL. Ghrelin modulates the activity and synaptic input organization of midbrain dopamine neurons while promoting appetite. Journal Of Clinical Investigation 2006, 116: 3229-3239. PMID: 17060947, PMCID: PMC1618869, DOI: 10.1172/jci29867.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAction PotentialsAnimalsAppetiteDopamineFluorescent Antibody TechniqueGhrelinMaleMesencephalonMiceMice, Inbred C57BLMice, KnockoutNeuronsNucleus AccumbensPatch-Clamp TechniquesPeptide HormonesRatsRats, Sprague-DawleyReceptors, GhrelinReceptors, G-Protein-CoupledTime FactorsVentral Tegmental AreaConceptsVentral tegmental areaGHSR-deficient miceGHSR-dependent mannerGut hormone ghrelinDopamine neuronal activityMidbrain dopamine neuronsMesolimbic reward circuitrySynaptic input organizationPeripheral ghrelinRebound feedingVTA administrationOrexigenic effectDopamine turnoverGHSR antagonistDopamine neuronsHypothalamic centersTegmental areaHormone ghrelinNucleus accumbensGhrelinNeuronal activitySynapse formationReward circuitryInput organizationFeeding scheduleLeptin Receptor Signaling in Midbrain Dopamine Neurons Regulates Feeding
Hommel JD, Trinko R, Sears RM, Georgescu D, Liu ZW, Gao XB, Thurmon JJ, Marinelli M, DiLeone RJ. Leptin Receptor Signaling in Midbrain Dopamine Neurons Regulates Feeding. Neuron 2006, 51: 801-810. PMID: 16982424, DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2006.08.023.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAction PotentialsAnimalsDopamineEatingFeeding BehaviorGene ExpressionIn Situ Hybridization, FluorescenceIn Vitro TechniquesInfusions, IntravenousLeptinMesencephalonMiceMice, Inbred C57BLMotor ActivityNeuronsPhosphorylationRatsRats, Sprague-DawleyReceptors, Cell SurfaceReceptors, LeptinRNA InterferenceRNA, MessengerSignal TransductionSTAT3 Transcription FactorVentral Tegmental AreaConceptsVentral tegmental areaVTA dopamine neuronsDopamine neuronsFood intakePeripheral metabolic signalsNormal food intakeMidbrain dopamine neuronsLeptin receptor signalingLeptin hormoneTegmental areaLEPR expressionLeptin receptor functionLocomotor activityPalatable foodDirect administrationReceptor functionFiring rateReceptor signalingDirect actionNeuronsLEPR mRNAFunctional evidenceLeptinRNAi-mediated knockdownMetabolic signals