Featured articles
These easy-to-digest reviews of current research articles ensure that you never miss the newest and most exciting findings in neuroscience and genomics research. Access to featured primary research articles from journals in the Nature family is free for three months.
August 2006
Pick a winner
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The choice of a single olfactory receptor gene in each olfactory sensory neuron involves the association of a DNA enhancer element with olfactory receptor genes on several different chromosomes.
Original research paper: Cell 126, 403-413 (2006)
Nervy infection
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The bacterium that causes leprosy disturbs myelination by hijacking a growth factor receptor.
Original research paper: Nature Medicine 12, 961-966 (2006)
Microglial restraining order
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Mice lacking the receptor for the chemokine fractalkine show increased activation of microglia and enhanced neurotoxicity in models of inflammation and neurodegeneration.
Original research paper: Nature Neuroscience 9, 917-924 (2006)
A twist of cell fate
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Platelet-derived growth factor receptor-
is a marker for neural stem cells in the adult brain and produces tumor-like growths when stimulated excessively. Original research paper: Neuron 51, 187-199 (2006)