Researchers at the Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI) at Kanazawa University, Kyoto University, SOKENDAI, and the National Institute for Physiological Sciences have revealed how CaMKIIα—a key brain protein involved in learning and memory—organizes itself into chain-like structures. Their study, published in Science Advances, shows how activation causes these protein structures to grow and how a mutation associated with neurodevelopmental disorders changes their organization, findings that could deepen our understanding of memory formation and neurological disease.　

 As new memories form the connections between brain cells can become stronger. A protein called CaMKIIα plays an important part in this process and is found in especially large amounts at the points where brain cells communicate. Scientists have long known that more of this protein gathers at active connections, but they have not been able to see clearly how the individual protein molecules come together.

 In the new study, a team led by Mikihiro Shibata, used high-speed atomic force microscopy, a technique that can visualize individual molecules at very high resolution, to observe how CaMKIIα molecules move and interact in real time. The researchers discovered that, under crowded conditions similar to those inside brain-cell connections, the molecules join together to form chain-like structures.

Simulations using the Japanese Supercomputer ATERUI III have explained the nature of the Little Red Dots observed by the James Webb Space Telescope without requiring any exotic assumptions. The simulations show that the Little Red Dots are black holes growing at a rate that would be impossible today thanks to the conditions in the early Universe.

Essential oil from underused Hinoki (Japanese cypress) roots may help improve sleep quality, according to a pilot study of middle-aged women. In a home-based crossover study, participants showed fewer nighttime awakenings, improved morning feelings, and brain-wave patterns suggesting smoother sleep onset. The findings also point to potential higher-value uses of forestry residues in aroma-based relaxation products.

Removal of cyclic nitrogen compounds present in the biomass-derived oils is a hydrogen-intensive and energy-inefficient process. A recent study from Nagoya Institute of Technology, Japan, reports the development of a pretreatment technology that uses silsesquioxane framework-containing ionic liquid (SQIL) membranes and pervaporation for selective separation of nitrogen compounds from multicomponent hydrocarbons based on preferential affinity. This technological advancement may enable energy-efficient production of fuels from biomass-derived oils.

Neuropathic pain, caused by damage or dysfunction of the nerves, is often difficult to treat because medicines that reduce pain may also cause unwanted effects. Now, researchers have developed humanized antibodies that target Nav1.7, a sodium channel involved in pain signaling. The antibodies produced pain relief lasting at least 96 hours in rat models, without affecting normal pain responses, providing preclinical support for a potential long-acting treatment strategy for neuropathic pain. 

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), marked by excessive activity and impulsivity, is linked to changes in the brain's dopamine system, though the mechanisms remain unclear. Researchers in Japan investigated the role of N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor (NSF), a protein linked to dopamine receptors, in D2 receptor-expressing cells. Using genetically modified mice, they found that loss of NSF led to lower dopamine levels and ADHD-like behaviors, offering insight into how brain changes may contribute to ADHD and informing future treatments.

Cytology tests are widely used for cancer screening, but diagnosis can be challenging when tumor and non-tumor cells look very similar. Researchers from Japan developed a machine learning system that identifies tumor cells based on their white-light scattering spectra. The approach achieved high diagnostic accuracy for mesothelioma and showed potential for distinguishing several other tumor types, offering a promising approach for enhancing cytological diagnosis.

A research team led by the University of Osaka created porous crystals that grow into spring-like helices. The crystals expand and contract as solvent molecules leave and re-enter their pores. The work shows that crystallization conditions can tune the overall shape of a porous crystal without fundamentally changing its internal porous structure, opening possibilities for microscale materials that respond to chemicals.

Kyoto, Japan -- The development of cooking was a major milestone in the evolution of human civilization, as it made our food easier to digest and thus more energy efficient. Heating our food can also kill harmful pathogens, and simply makes certain foods taste better. Overcooking, on the other hand, can have adverse effects, particularly on proteins.

Severe heating can modify proteins in a way that reduces their nutritional value. For this reason we do not tend to overcook our food, but some of the processed food we now consume may be subject to severe heating during production.

Scientists have suspected that a diet including high-temperature-treated proteins may have nutritional deficiencies, yet how exactly long-term intake of these treated proteins affects physiological and behavioral responses has not been well understood. This motivated a team of researchers at Kyoto University to investigate how such a diet would affect mice.