Distinct functions of the two isoforms of dopamine D2 receptors

Signalling through dopamine D2 receptors governs physiological functions related to locomotion, hormone production and drug abuse. D2 receptors are also known targets of antipsychotic drugs that are used to treat neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia. By a mechanism of alternative splicing, the D2 receptor gene encodes two molecularly distinct isoforms, D2S and D2L, previously thought to have the same function. Here we show that these receptors have distinct functions in vivo; D2L acts mainly at postsynaptic sites and D2S serves presynaptic autoreceptor functions. The cataleptic effects of the widely used antipsychotic haloperidol are absent in D2L-deficient mice. This suggests that D2L is targeted by haloperidol, with implications for treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders. The absence of D2L reveals that D2S inhibits D1 receptor-mediated functions, uncovering a circuit of signalling interference between dopamine receptors.     

Functional Materials for Catalytic and Magnetic Applications

1 Introduction Metal, metal oxide and metal compound nanoparticles (NPs) received considerable attention due to their unique properties: catalytic, magnetic, optical, electronic, etc. We believe that for different applications, there are preferable morphologies of NP-stabilizing medium composites. For example, small (1-3 nm) nanoparticles formed in micro/mesoporous hypercrosslinked polystyrene demonstrate excellent catalytic properties in various hydrogenation and oxidation reactions due to high surface...     

何去何从——也谈文学艺术终结论

有关文学是否会终结于电信化时代的话题目前成为文艺理论界争论的热点,“文学终结论”者立论的依据(“媒介决定论”)是值得商榷的。电子信息时代在整个人类发展史上具有革命性的意义,包括文学在内的许多事物都正处于转型与重塑的过程中。文学的涵义是发展的、开放的、复杂的,我们不能用一成不变的观念去框定当下这种多元的文学现状。目前理论界正在探讨的其实已经不是文学是否会终结的问题,而是文学转型的问题。