WldS, Nmnats and axon degeneration-progress in the past two decades

Axon Degeneration: Where the Wlds Things Are

Expression of the Wld(s) protein significantly delays axon degeneration in injuries and diseases, but the mechanism for this protection is unknown. Two recent reports present evidence that axonal mitochondria are required for Wld(S)-mediated axon protection.

Rectal cancer: progress over the past two decades.

WldS Prevents Axon Degeneration through Increased Mitochondrial Flux and Enhanced Mitochondrial Ca2+ Buffering

Wld(S) (slow Wallerian degeneration) is a remarkable protein that can suppress Wallerian degeneration of axons and synapses, but how it exerts this effect remains unclear. Here, using Drosophila and mouse models, we identify mitochondria as a key site of action for Wld(S) neuroprotective function. Targeting the NAD(+) biosynthetic enzyme Nmnat to mitochondria was sufficient to fully phenocopy W...

Wlds Protection Distinguishes Axon Degeneration following Injury from Naturally Occurring Developmental Pruning

Axon pruning by degeneration remodels exuberant axonal connections and is widely required for the development of proper circuitry in the nervous system from insects to mammals. Developmental axon degeneration morphologically resembles injury-induced Wallerian degeneration, suggesting similar underlying mechanisms. As previously reported for mice, we show that Wlds protein substantially delays W...

Two Decades of Near‐Surface Seismology Progress

Shallow seismic methods have matured noticeably over the two decades since the first SAGEEP was held in 1988. At that time, the world’s scientific literature contained no more than a dozen refereed papers on shallow (less then 30 meters deep) reflection, but now there are hundreds of such examples. Analysis of surface waves was done with two-channel seismic systems in the 1980’s, whereas seismo...