Fabio Benfenati

Controlled Blood-Brain Barrier Modulation by a High-Affinity Claudin-5 Peptide Binder

The paper designs a high-affinity CLDN5 peptide binder, ST9, that induces reversible, size-controlled BBB openings without altering CLDN5 expression or proteomic profile.

Molecular mechanism of partially open Kv7.2 gate stabilization by gain-of-function variants

This study investigates how gain-of-function variants in the Kv7.2 channel's activation gate stabilize a partially open conformation, enabling K+ permeation and linking it to neurodevelopmental disorders.

Intrinsic excitability controls structural plasticity of cerebellar climbing fibers

This study shows that reduced intrinsic excitability in cerebellar climbing fibers leads to structural changes and altered synaptic function, suggesting a role in memory encoding and disease pathophysiology.

REST/NRSF phosphorylation by CaMKIV regulates its transcriptional repressor activity and half-life

This study shows that CaMKIV phosphorylation of REST at Ser-322 reduces its repressor activity and promotes its degradation.

A multi-pore model of the blood-brain barrier tight junction strands recapitulates the permeability features of wild-type and mutant claudin-5

The paper models the blood-brain barrier tight junctions using multi-pore structures and shows that multi-Pore I replicates the permeability effect of a Cldn5 mutation.

A membrane-targeted photoswitch restores physiological ON/OFF responses to light in the degenerate retina

This paper demonstrates that Ziapin2, a membrane photoswitch, restores ON/OFF visual responses in degenerate retinas by modulating neuronal excitability and conductances.

A claudin5-binding peptide enhances the permeability of the blood-brain-barrier

The paper designs and tests peptides that bind claudin-5 to increase blood-brain barrier permeability, identifying a peptide that effectively enhances permeability in vitro.

CONSTITUTIVE OPENING OF THE Kv7.2 PORE ACTIVATION GATE CAUSES KCNQ2-DEVELOPMENTAL ENCEPHALOPATHY

This study identifies two KCNQ2 variants causing developmental encephalopathies by constitutively opening the Kv7.2 pore activation gate, leading to gain-of-function effects.

A sequential event-responsive fluorescent reporter for inducible Cre and Flp combinatorial recombination

The paper introduces Rubik, a fluorescent reporter that tracks Cre and Flp recombination sequences and enables optogenetic control through temporal recombination events.

Ion and water permeation through Claudin-10b paracellular channels

This study uses Molecular Dynamics simulations to compare ion and water permeability of Cldn10b and Cldn15 paracellular channels, revealing structural determinants of their permeability properties.

The synapsin-dependent vesicle cluster is crucial for presynaptic plasticity at a glutamatergic synapse in male mice

This study investigates the role of synapsin isoforms in presynaptic plasticity at hippocampal mossy fiber boutons in male mice, finding decreased short-term and increased long-term plasticity upon synapsin deletion.

The Impact of Pathogenic and Artificial Mutations on Claudin-5 Selectivity from Molecular Dynamics Simulations

The paper uses molecular dynamics simulations to study how pathogenic and artificial mutations affect ion selectivity in Claudin-5 paracellular pores, identifying structural models that align with experimental observations.

P3HT-GRAPHENE DEVICE FOR THE RESTORATION OF VISUAL PROPERTIES IN A RAT MODEL OF RETINITIS PIGMENTOSA

This paper demonstrates that a graphene-enhanced organic photovoltaic device restores visual function in a rat model of retinitis pigmentosa without significant inflammation.

Computational Assessment of Different Structural Models for Claudin-5 Complexes in Blood-Brain-Barrier Tight-Junctions

This study compares two structural models of Claudin-5 complexes in BBB tight junctions using molecular dynamics and free energy calculations to assess their ionic transport properties.

TUNNELING NANOTUBES CONNECT BLOOD-BRAIN BARRIER CELLS: ROLE OF PERICYTES IN BARRIER PRESERVATION DURING ISCHEMIA

This study shows that tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) enable mitochondrial transfer between BBB cells, rescuing astrocytes from ischemia/reperfusion-induced apoptosis and highlighting pericytes' role in BBB preservation.

REST/NRSF drives homeostatic plasticity of inhibitory synapses in a target-dependent fashion

This study shows REST/NRSF enhances GABAergic inhibition specifically at inhibitory-onto-excitatory synapses in response to hyperactivity, maintaining neuronal homeostasis.

A developmental stage- and Kidins220/ARMS-dependent switch in astrocyte responsiveness to brain-derived neurotrophic factor

This study shows that astrocytes switch from a kinase-based to a calcium-based response to BDNF during development, with Kidins220/ARMS modulating both pathways and regulating Kir4.1 expression.

The enhancement of activity rescues the establishment of Mecp2 null neuronal phenotypes

This study shows that enhancing neuronal activity rescues developmental defects in Mecp2 null neurons, improving their maturation and extending lifespan in a mouse model of Rett syndrome.

A Membrane-Targeted Photoswitch Potently Modulates Neuronal Firing

This paper describes a membrane-targeted photoswitch that modulates neuronal firing by altering membrane capacitance, without affecting ion channels or temperature.