Decoding the Cellular Trafficking of Prion-like Proteins in Neurodegenerative Diseases / 神经科学通报·英文版

The accumulation and spread of prion-like proteins is a key feature of neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. In a process known as 'seeding', prion-like proteins such as amyloid beta, microtubule-associated protein tau, α-synuclein, silence superoxide dismutase 1, or transactive response DNA-binding protein 43 kDa, propagate their misfolded conformations by transforming their respective soluble monomers into fibrils. Cellular and molecular evidence of prion-like propagation in NDs, the clinical relevance of their 'seeding' capacities, and their levels of contribution towards disease progression have been intensively studied over recent years. This review unpacks the cyclic prion-like propagation in cells including factors of aggregate internalization, endo-lysosomal leaking, aggregate degradation, and secretion. Debates on the importance of the role of prion-like protein aggregates in NDs, whether causal or consequent, are also discussed. Applications lead to a greater understanding of ND pathogenesis and increased potential for therapeutic strategies.

A Method Based on the Complex Network for Mining the System Biological Information of Scutellaria Barbata D. Don / 世界科学技术-中医药现代化

Scutellaria barbata D. Don is widely used in TCM clinical practice, so it is important to delve the information of its system biology. In this paper, we integrate its natural compounds and genomics information. The Herb-Prince complex networks algorithm is used to delve potential associated genes, gene families and KEGG signal pathways for Scutellaria barbata D. Don, and the information is verified by literature. The top 100 genes, 4 gene families and 10 KEGG signaling pathways were found. The related results are highly consistent with the clinical and pharmacological studies of Scutellaria barbata D. Don, which provide decision support for researchers to study pharmacological activities of Scutellaria barbata D. Don at the molecular level.