Deficiency of CAMSAP2 impairs olfaction and the morphogenesis of mitral cells.

In developing olfactory bulb (OB), mitral cells (MCs) remodel their dendrites to establish the precise olfactory circuit, and these circuits are critical for individuals to sense odors and elicit behaviors for survival. However, how microtubules (MTs) participate in the process of dendritic remodeling remains elusive. Here, we reveal that calmodulin-regulated spectrin-associated proteins (CAMSAPs), a family of proteins that bind to the minus-end of the noncentrosomal MTs, play a crucial part in the development of MC dendrites. We observed that Camsap2 knockout (KO) males are infertile while the reproductive tract is normal. Further study showed that the infertility was due to the severe defects of mating behavior in male mice. Besides, mice with loss-of-function displayed defects in the sense of smell. Furthermore, we found that the deficiency of CAMSAP2 impairs the classical morphology of MCs, and the CAMSAP2-dependent dendritic remodeling process is responsible for this defect. Thus, our findings demonstrate that CAMSAP2 plays a vital role in regulating the development of MCs.

Identification of Curcumin Targets in the Brain of Epileptic Mice Using DARTS.

Curcumin, a compound derived from turmeric, is traditionally utilized in East Asian medicine for treating various health conditions, including epilepsy. Despite its involvement in numerous cellular signaling pathways, the specific mechanisms and targets of curcumin in epilepsy treatment have remained unclear. Our study focused on identifying the primary targets and functional pathways of curcumin in the brains of epileptic mice. Using drug affinity responsive target stabilization (DARTS) and affinity chromatography, we identified key targets in the mouse brain, revealing 232 and 70 potential curcumin targets, respectively. Bioinformatics analysis revealed a strong association of these proteins with focal adhesions and cytoskeletal components. Further experiments using DARTS, along with immunofluorescence staining and cell migration assays, confirmed curcumin's ability to regulate the dynamics of focal adhesions and influence cell migration. This study not only advances our understanding of curcumin's role in epilepsy treatment but also serves as a model for identifying therapeutic targets in neurological disorders.

Revealing the Influence of Electron Migration Inside Polymer Electrolyte on Li+ Transport and Interphase Reconfiguration for Li Metal Batteries.

The development of highly producible and interfacial compatible in situ polymerized electrolytes for solid-state lithium metal batteries (SSLMBs) have been plagued by insufficient transport kinetics and uncontrollable dendrite propagation. Herein, we seek to explore a rationally designed nanofiber architecture to balance all the criteria of SSLMBs, in which La0.6Sr0.4CoO3-δ (LSC) enriched with high valence-state Co species and oxygen vacancies is developed as electronically conductive nanofillers embedded within ZnO/Zn3N2-functionalized polyimide (Zn-PI) nanofiber framework for the first time, to establish Li+ transport highways for poly vinylene carbonate (PVC) electrolyte and eliminate nonuniform Li deposits. Revealed by characterization and theoretical calculation under electric field, the positive-negative electrical dipole layer in LSC derived from electron migration between Co and O atoms aids in accelerating Li+ diffusion kinetics through densified electric field around filler particle, featuring a remarkable ionic conductivity of 1.50 mS cm-1 at 25 °C and a high Li+ transference number of 0.91 without the risk of electron leakage. Integrating with the preferential sacrifice of ZnO/Zn3N2 on PI nanofiber upon immediate detection of dendritic Li, which takes part in reconfiguring hierarchical SEI chemistry dominated by LixNy/Li-Zn alloy inner layer and LiF outer layer, SSLMBs are further endowed with prolonged cycling lifespan and exceptional rate capability.

In Situ Constructing Robust and Highly Conductive Solid Electrolyte with Tailored Interfacial Chemistry for Durable Li Metal Batteries.

Employing nanofiber framework for in situ polymerized solid-state lithium metal batteries (SSLMBs) is impeded by the insufficient Li+ transport properties and severe dendritic Li growth. Both critical issues originate from the shortage of Li+ conduction highways and nonuniform Li+ flux, as randomly-scattered nanofiber backbone is highly prone to slippage during battery assembly. Herein, a robust fabric of Li0.33 La0.56 Ce0.06 Ti0.94 O3-δ /polyacrylonitrile framework (p-LLCTO/PAN) with inbuilt Li+ transport channels and high interfacial Li+ flux is reported to manipulate the critical current density of SSLMBs. Upon the merits of defective LLCTO fillers, TFSI- confinement and linear alignment of Li+ conduction pathways are realized inside 1D p-LLCTO/PAN tunnels, enabling remarkable ionic conductivity of 1.21 mS cm-1 (26 °C) and tLi+ of 0.93 for in situ polymerized polyvinylene carbonate (PVC) electrolyte. Specifically, molecular reinforcement protocol on PAN framework further rearranges the Li+ highway distribution on Li metal and alters Li dendrite nucleation pattern, boosting a homogeneous Li deposition behavior with favorable SEI interface chemistry. Accordingly, excellent capacity retention of 76.7% over 1000 cycles at 2 C for Li||LiFePO4 battery and 76.2% over 500 cycles at 1 C for Li||LiNi0.5 Co0.2 Mn0.3 O2 battery are delivered by p-LLCTO/PAN/PVC electrolyte, presenting feasible route in overcoming the bottleneck of dendrite penetration in in situ polymerized SSLMBs.