Mounting evidence has demonstrated that a specialized extracellular matrix exists in the mammalian brain, and this glycoprotein-rich matrix contributes to many aspects of brain development and function. The most prominent supramolecular assembly of these ECM glycoproteins are perineuronal nets, specialized lattice-like structures that surround the cell bodies and proximal neurites of select classes of interneurons. Perineuronal nets are composed of lecticans – a family of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans [CSPGs] that includes aggrecan, brevican, neurocan, and versican. The presence of these lattice-like structures emerge late in postnatal brain development and coincides with the ending of critical periods of brain development. Despite our knowledge of the presence of lecticans in perineuronal nets and their importance in regulating synaptic plasticity, we know little about the development or distribution of extracellular proteases that are responsible for their cleavage and turnover. A subset of the large “A Disintegrin and Metalloproteinase with Thrombospondin Motifs” (ADAMTS) family of extracellular proteases is responsible for endogenously cleaving lecticans. We therefore explored the expression pattern of 2 aggrecan-degrading ADAMTS family members, ADAMTS15 and ADAMTS4, in hippocampus and neocortex. Here, we show that both lectican-degrading metalloproteases are present in these brain regions and each exhibits a distinct temporal and spatial expression pattern. Adamts15 mRNA is expressed exclusively by Parvalbumin-expressing interneurons during synaptogenesis, whereas, Adamts4 mRNA is exclusively generated by telencephalic oligodendrocytes during myelination. Thus, ADAMTS15 and ADAMTS4 not only exhibit unique cellular expression patterns but their developmental upregulation by these cell types coincides with critical aspects of neural development.

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‘Jamestown’ (Reg. No. CV‐1041, PI 653731) soft red winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was developed and released by the Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station in March 2007. Jamestown was derived from the cross ‘Roane’/Pioneer Brand ‘2691’ and was tested under the experimental number VA02W‐370. Jamestown is an early heading, awned, short‐stature, semidwarf (Rht2) cultivar possessing resistance to the predominant insect and disease pests in the eastern soft wheat region. Jamestown most notably has resistance to Hessian fly [Mayetiola destructor (Say)], stripe rust (caused by Puccinia striiformis Westend.), and Fusarium head blight [caused by Fusarium graminearum (Schwabe)]. In USDA–ARS Uniform Southern Soft Red Winter Wheat Nursery Trials conducted at 27 locations in 2005 and at 26 locations in 2006, Jamestown produced average grain yields of 5496 and 5563 kg ha−1, respectively, compared with nursery mean yields of 4959 kg ha−1 in 2005 and 4878 kg ha−1 in 2006. Milling and baking quality of Jamestown exceeds that of ‘USG 3209’. On an Allis Chalmers Mill, Jamestown has higher break flour yield (305 vs. 283 g kg−1), softer flour texture (softness equivalent score 57.4 vs. 54.1 g 100 g−1), lower sucrose solvent retention capacity (93.8 vs. 104 g 100 g−1), and larger cookie diameters (17.0 vs. 16.8 cm).

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