Yonsei Advanced Science Institute

Mechanosensory feedback from the digestive tract to the brain is critical for limiting excessive food and water intake, but the underlying gut–brain communication pathways and mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here we show that, in mice, neurons in the parabrachial nucleus that express the prodynorphin gene (hereafter, PBPdyn neurons) monitor the intake of both fluids and solids, using mechanosensory signals that arise from the upper digestive tract. Most individual PBPdyn neurons are activated by ingestion as well as the stimulation of the mouth and stomach, which indicates the representation of integrated sensory signals across distinct parts of the digestive tract. PBPdyn neurons are anatomically connected to the digestive periphery via cranial and spinal pathways; we show that, among these pathways, the vagus nerve conveys stomach-distension signals to PBPdyn neurons....

Low-intensity, low-frequency ultrasound (LILFU) is the next-generation, non-invasive brain stimulation technology for treating various neurological and psychiatric disorders. However, the underlying cellular and molecular mechanism of LILFU-induced neuromodulation has remained unknown. Here, we report that LILFU-induced neuromodulation is initiated by opening of TRPA1 channels in astrocytes. The Ca2+ entry through TRPA1 causes a release of gliotransmitters including glutamate through Best1 channels in astrocytes. The released glutamate activates NMDA receptors in neighboring neurons to elicit action potential firing. Our results reveal an unprecedented mechanism of LILFU-induced neuromodulation, involving TRPA1 as a unique sensor for LILFU and glutamate-releasing Best1 as a mediator of glia-neuron interaction. These discoveries should prove to be useful for optimization of human brain stimulation and ultrasonogenetic manipulations of TRPA1.

Metal halide perovskite nanocrystals with the chemically tunable bandgap and superb optical properties are promising candidates for a number of high performance optoelectronic and photonic applications....

On the 5th of November, 2020, the presidential delegation of Yonsei University, including Seoung Hwan Suh, the president visited IBS CNM. Jinwoo Choen, the director of IBS CNM greeted the delegation and gave a hall tour.

Science Factory at Yonsei, Season 3, 2020 Summer

IBS CNM Researcher Interview (2)

Do Young Noh, the President of the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) visited IBS CNM

Science and Higher Education Officers of French Embassy(Institut Français Corée du Sud) visited IBS CNM to share passionate ideas with us

IBS CNM Researcher Interview (1)

Laboratory tour with students and researchers of IBS CNM & Nano BME