To investigate the channel properties of the mammalian type 3 ryanodine receptor (RyR3), we have cloned the RyR3 cDNA from rabbit uterus by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and expressed the cDNA in HEK293 cells. Immunoblotting studies showed that the cloned RyR3 was indistinguishable from the native mammalian RyR3 in molecular size and immunoreactivity. Ca 2؉ release measurements using the fluorescence Ca 2؉ indicator fluo 3 revealed that the cloned RyR3 functioned as a caffeine-and ryanodine-sensitive Ca 2؉ Ryanodine receptors are a family of intracellular Ca 2ϩ release channels that were originally identified in the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) 1 of striated muscles. To date, three members of this family have been identified in mammalian tissues, namely the skeletal muscle (RyR1), the cardiac muscle (RyR2), and the brain (RyR3) ryanodine receptor. These proteins are the products of different genes and share 66 -70% amino acid sequence identity (1-5). Earlier studies using RNA blot analysis revealed that the expression patterns of these isoforms were very different (6). RyR1 was predominantly expressed in skeletal muscle, whereas RyR2 was mainly expressed in heart and brain. The expression of RyR3 was detected in smooth muscle tissues and certain regions of the brain. However, results of recent ribonuclease protection assay demonstrate that all three RyR isoforms are widely and differentially expressed (7). These studies also indicate that most tissues express more than one RyR isoform. For example, skeletal muscles express both RyR1 and RyR3, although RyR3 is expressed at a much lower level than that of RyR1.

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How seizures start is a major question in epilepsy research. Preictal EEG changes occur in both human patients and animal models, but their underlying mechanisms and relationship with seizure initiation remain unknown. Here we demonstrate the existence, in the hippocampal CA1 region, of a preictal state characterized by the progressive and global increase in neuronal activity associated with a widespread buildup of low-amplitude high-frequency activity (HFA) (Ͼ100 Hz) and reduction in system complexity. HFA is generated by the firing of neurons, mainly pyramidal cells, at much lower frequencies. Individual cycles of HFA are generated by the near-synchronous (within ϳ5 ms) firing of small numbers of pyramidal cells. The presence of HFA in the low-calcium model implicates nonsynaptic synchronization; the presence of very similar HFA in the high-potassium model shows that it does not depend on an absence of synaptic transmission. Immediately before seizure onset, CA1 is in a state of high sensitivity in which weak depolarizing or synchronizing perturbations can trigger seizures. Transition to seizure is characterized by a rapid expansion and fusion of the neuronal populations responsible for HFA, associated with a progressive slowing of HFA, leading to a single, massive, hypersynchronous cluster generating the high-amplitude low-frequency activity of the seizure.

HighlightbHLH115 functions downstream of the E3 ligase BRUTUS and positively controls the expression of the iron-deficiency responsive bHLH transcription factors POPEYE and bHLH38/39/100/101 for iron homeostasis in Arabidopsis.

The results show that PE can estimate the sevoflurane drug effect more effectively than AE. This method could be applied to design a new electroencephalographic monitoring system to estimate sevoflurane anesthetic drug effect.