Progress in 2009

A series of recent studies have revealed similarities in the characteristics of non-infectious neurodegenerative diseases and prionopathies. Frost and Diamond consider what these findings may tell us about disease pathogenesis and treatment strategies.

Multiple roles for microRNA-mediated regulation of mRNA translation in the nervous system have emerged in recent years. Dawson and colleagues discuss the mechanisms by which microRNAs might influence neurodegenerative disease pathogenesis and outline key questions for future research.

WNTs are largely thought of as regulators of cell fate but recent studies highlight their involvement in synaptic development. Korkut and Budnik discuss emerging data on the effects of WNT signalling in neuromuscular junction formation in nematodes, insects, fish and mammals.

GIRK and SK channels, two families of voltage-independent K⁺channels, have recently been described at synaptic as well as extrasynaptic sites. Luján and colleagues discuss how associated signalling complexes in conjunction with local signals could result in the different functions of these two ion channel families.