Glial cells in neuronal development:recent advances and insights from Drosophila melanogaster

Gila outnumber neurons and are the most abundant cell type in the nervous system. Whereas neurons are the major carriers, transducers, and processors of information, glial cells, once considered mainly to play a passive supporting role, are now recognized for their active contributions to almost every aspect of nervous system development. Recently, insights from the invertebrate organism Drosophila melanogaster have advanced our knowledge of glial cell biology. In particular, findings on neuron-glia interactions via intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms have shed light on the importance of gtia during different stages of neuronal development. Here, we summarize recent advances in understanding the functions of Drosophila glia, which resemble their mammalian counterparts in morphology and function, neural stem-cell conversion, synapse formation, and developmental axon pruning. These discoveries reinforce the idea that glia are substantial players in the developing nervous system and further advance the understanding of mechanisms leading to neurodegeneration.

Oxygen vacancies induced narrow band gap of BiOCl for efficient visible-light catalytic performance from double radicals

In this work,a high-efficiency photocatalytic BiOCl material with a visible light absorption range was successfully prepared by one-pot molecular self-assembly and particle recrystallization method at room temperature.In the process of crystal growth,tartaric acid,as a structure control agent,gradually transforms the stacked two-dimensional nano-sheet-like BiOCl into a hierarchical structure composed of petallike nano-sheets through hydrogen bonding.Besides,the acid etching of organic carboxylic acid on the crystal surface increases the number of micropores and mesopores,thereby the reaction interface.The thiourea(TU)molecules adsorbed on the BiOCl surface with a strong electronic effect introduce oxygen vacancies(OVs)under the condition of low oxygen content.The synergistic effect of hierarchical structure and OVs reduces the recombination of photogenerated carriers,but absorbs more O_(2)and OH−to generate a large number of superoxide radicals(·O_(2)−)and hydroxyl radicals(·OH)effectively.The photocatalytic performance of the synthesized BiOCl material has been significantly improved,and it can effectively degrade 94.15%of rhodamine B(RhB)within 20 min.Furthermore,90.95%of tetracycline(TC),93.76%of ciprofloxacin(CIP),and 85.53%of methyl orange(MO)can be removed in 80 min.Therefore,our work provides an effective method for preparing BiOCl with visible light catalytic activity,which,of course,can be used to treat and repair actual environmental problems under mild conditions.

Drosophila ubiquitin E3 ligase dSmurf is required for synapse remodeling and axon pruning by glia

Animal behaviors and higher-order functions rely on complex neural circuits built by synaptic connections （synapses） to deliver messages among different brain cells. As the major mediator in the nervous system, neurons communicate via synapses, which undergo constant structural remodeling with strict regulation.