MOTIVATION The β-barrel is a ubiquitous fold that is deployed to accomplish a wide variety of biological functions including membrane-embedded pores. Key influences of β-barrel lumen diameter include the number of β-strands (n) and the degree of shear (S), the latter value measuring the extent to which the β-sheet is tilted within the β-barrel. Notably, it has previously been reported that the ...

Our aim was to investigate the patterns of functional inputs and outputs from individual barrels in the mouse somatosensory cortex, and to test the hypothesis that individual barrels in layer IV are functionally independent of direct inputs from neighboring barrels. In a mouse in vitro slice preparation of the barrel cortex, we recorded voltage-sensitive dye signals evoked in response to micros...

The amino acid composition and architecture of all -barrel membrane proteins of known three-dimensional structure have been examined to generate information that will be useful in identifying -barrels in genome databases. The database consists of 15 nonredundant structures, including several novel, recent structures. Known structures include monomeric, dimeric, and trimeric -barrels with betwee...

The 20th annual Barrels meeting brought together researchers who utilize behavioral, physiological, anatomical, and molecular techniques to understand the structure and function of the barrel system. Barrels XX featured talks on the role inhibition has in shaping cortical responses within the barrel system, the molecular cues that influence the development of the whisker-to-barrel system, and t...

During barrel maturation, the volatile compounds extracted from oak wood can contribute to a wine’s overall aroma and flavour, enhancing its character and complexity. However, barrels have a finite pool of extractable material and the amounts of oak derived volatile compounds available for extraction diminish over time. As a consequence, barrels are typically decommissioned after five to six ye...

The 27th annual Barrels meeting highlighted the latest advances in this rapidly growing field. The Barrels meeting annually focuses on the role of the posterior medial thalamus in somatosensation, dendritic processing, and the cortical dynamics involved during touch perception. Speakers utilized diverse molecular, physiological, computational techniques to understand the development, sensory pr...

The 26th annual Barrels meeting was convened on the campus of the University of California San Diego, not far from the shores of the Pacific Ocean. The meeting focused on three main themes: the structure and function of the thalamic reticular nucleus, the neurovasculature system and its role in brain metabolism, and the origins and functions of cortical GABAergic interneurons. In addition to th...