Thank you to Dr. Hsiao-Tuan Chao who was instrumental in helping us process all our human data and to Dr. Jill Mokry
who helped us with our rare variant data. Last but not least, thank you to @rnareylab.bsky.social for being an incredible mentor and steering this ship through it all!
Our study showcases the power of high-throughput approaches in C. elegans, uncovering novel memory regulators and linking them to neurological disease. RBPs continue to be fascinating players in the intricate world of learning and memory.
We found a rare YBX3 variant in three individuals, two of which have neurological symptoms. Shockingly, introducing this variant into the cey-1 locus in C. elegans caused memory deficits. Our findings reinforce the idea that the YBXs in humans may be linked to neuro disease!
We switched it up to humans and examined copy number variant datasets. We found that deletions including human YBX1 and YBX3 may be linked to neurological symptoms. However, copy number deletions involve a lot of genes, so we decided to look at single nucleotide variants next.
We identified CEY-1 as the closest ortholog to the mammalian Y-Box RNA-binding (YBX) proteins in humans. Our study reveals that CEY-1 is specifically required in the nervous system for memory. It's actually a memory-promoting molecule, because adding more of it enhances memory!!
👋 Meet CEY-1, CEY-2, and CEY-3, members of the C. elegans Y-Box (CEY) RNA-binding protein family. These proteins are new, key players in memory regulation, with each controlling memory differently! #NovelDiscoveries #RNA #Memory
We used C. elegans for a targeted screen on 20 RBPs to find new memory regulators. Why worms? They are a powerful model to discover conserved mechanisms in neuronal cell biology. We identified 16 memory regulators, 8 of which are novel! #Celegans #Memory
Why study RNA-binding proteins (RBPs)? RBPs play a crucial role in translation and plasticity in the nervous system. RBP dysfunction has been linked to many neurological disorders, including intellectual disability. Our quest: understand the role of RBPs in memory.
🧠 #Tweetorial:
Exciting findings on RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) and memory regulation! Our recent paper on @biorxivpreprint delves into the intricate world of RBPs and their impact on learning and memory in the nervous system.
#Neuroscience #RNA #Memory
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Thanks Austin for rolling out the graffiti carpet for some Houston area worm wranglers attending this year's Pavlovian meeting! #Celegans #neuroskyence
Picture showing grey socks with black spiders hanging from a black spider web
It’s September 1 which means it’s the official beginning of spooky season. My decorations will begin to go up this weekend. I don’t make the rules, but I do follow them 🎃 🦇 🕷️
