Put another way, the science shows us that creatine’s ability to benefit your brain is at its best when you’re, well, not at yours.
“Brain levels appear tightly regulated and may rise only modestly with supplementation, unless the brain is energy-stressed or baseline creatine is low,” i.e., if you’re sleep-deprived, stressed out, or not getting enough creatine through your diet, says Zishan Khan, MD, board-certified psychiatrist with Mindpath Health, who notes that creatine has shown “mixed or null effects on broader executive functions in healthy, rested adults.”
That being said, creatine’s potential to pick up the slack when your brain is tired or stressed (or a bit of both) is well worth the hype the supplement has recently been receiving on social media for its purported ability to reverse up to 21 hours of sleep deprivation.
“That 21-hour sleep deprivation example isn’t just anecdotal,” says Luke Barr, MD, board-certified neurologist and director of neurology at Deaconess Health System, who points out that peer-reviewed research, like this 2024 trial published in the journal Nature, has found creatine to be especially adept at blunting the negative effects of fatigue, stress, and other forms of cognitive impairment.
“Among the studied outcomes, processing speed and working memory under cognitive stress are the most replicated,” says Dr. Barr—citing research including a 2018 meta-analysis published in the journal Experimental Gerontology, which found creatine to significantly improve short-term memory and reasoning, and, more recently, a 2024 study review by researchers at Guizhou Normal University in China that identified modest but consistent improvements in processing speed and focus. “Each of these studies helps validate creatine’s role as a nootropic in cognitively stressed brains,” he says.
Meanwhile, researchers continue to surface new brain health benefits, like this promising 2023 review published in the journal Sports Medicine that uncovered creatine’s potential to mitigate the effects of depression, anxiety, and even traumatic brain injuries such as concussion.
How much creatine do you need to take in order to reap these brain-boosting benefits?
While a daily dose of five grams has been well established as the ideal for improving muscular strength and size, the precise serving of creatine required to capitalize on the mental benefits is yet to be determined, although it’s likely considerably higher. “This is because the creatine must pass through the blood-brain barrier,” which presents a tougher hurdle than skeletal muscle tissue, says Leigh Erin Connealy, MD, medical director at the Center for New Medicine.
Based on the daily dosages used in clinical trials that have reported the biggest impact on cognition, experts who spoke to GQ recommend between 10 and 25 grams, and dividing servings into smaller doses throughout the day, which Dr. Connealy says can help improve the transportation of creatine into brain tissue.
It’s also worth noting that none of the experts we consulted advised sustaining these high levels for longer than four to eight weeks, recommending instead that taking an especially high dosage of creatine to boost your brain should be reserved for shorter-term periods when you expect to experience heightened stress or less sleep.
Alternatively, when it comes to counteracting the effects of acute sleep deprivation or cognitive stress with relatively immediate effect, Dr. Barr says that research has also demonstrated promising results with a single dose of between 20 and 25 grams. “I am a firm believer of the benefits and take 20 grams on days after I notice I sleep poorly,” says Dr. Khan.
Are there any risks?
Creatine is widely recognized as one of the safest supplements out there. And in the event that side effects occur, they tend to be limited to relatively benign conditions like gastrointestinal discomfort or bloating. Of course, everybody is different, and you should always consult with your doctor before quadrupling your daily creatine intake—especially if you have any known health conditions.
“In rare cases, individuals with preexisting kidney disease should avoid high-dose protocols without physician oversight,” says Dr. Barr. “Otherwise, it’s one of the most well-studied and safest supplements on the market.”
The latest generation of smartwatches is looking to the skies to expand their connectivity capabilities. The Apple Watch Ultra 3 will be the second mainstream smartwatch (not counting the Garmin Fenix 8 Pro) to support satellite communications, and the new connectivity feature is one of a few changes coming to the device. Other upgrades include the S10 chip, a slightly larger display, bigger battery that lasts up to 42 hours, support for 5G, as well as the hypertension and sleep score features coming to the Series 11 (and also the Ultra 2 and several older Apple Watch models).
While I continue to review the Series 11 before spending more time with the Ultra 3 (and the SE 3), I wanted to share what it’s like to use satellite communications on the wearable and how it differs from the approach on the Pixel Watch 4. To be clear, I have yet to receive a review unit of the Pixel Watch 4, so my impressions are based on a recorded demo at a hands-on event. For the Watch Ultra 3, I have a review unit and am using its built-in demo tool to connect to satellites.
You can launch satellite communications on the Watch Ultra 3 in a few ways. Add it to the Control Center or as a complication on any watch face, and you’ll get options to send messages, share your location or contact emergency services. The first two require paid cellular service for your smartwatch. The device will also automatically suggest satellite connectivity when you’re offline, though that’s a situation I have yet to encounter. Regardless of where you use it, a lot of the process of connecting to a satellite is similar to that on the iPhone 14 and newer. If you’ve never tried that before, hang tight, as I will explain the steps a little further down.
Emergency satellite communications on the Apple Watch Ultra 3
There’s also another screen where you might encounter a prompt to link to a satellite — in the phone dialer. Whether you’re on the watch or iPhone, Apple imagines (and likely hopes) that dialing your local emergency hotline is your first step. Here in the US, that number is 911. Of course, as a socially responsible person, I didn’t want to unnecessarily burden emergency services and did not try this out myself on the Watch Ultra 3. Instead, Apple representatives gave us a demo in Cupertino last week, and made a call to 911 that was routed to the company’s own call centers.
As a reminder, the process for emergency SOS via satellite is different from using Messages or Find My via satellite because users are likely to be dialing their local services first and foremost. Only when that fails will the emergency satellite communications interface kick in. Once you select the Emergency SOS via Satellite option that appears after a few seconds or when your watch detects you’re offline, you’ll be shown a list of guidelines, recommending you be outside with a clear view of the sky and explaining that transmission will take longer than when sent over cellular networks.
After that, you’ll be presented a series of multiple choice questions to inform rescue services of your condition and environment. Thanks to the Watch Ultra 3’s larger screen, the system’s large buttons and readable font weren’t hard to see, and I could make out the options at arm’s length. A few taps later, we had selected some answers indicating we were “lost or trapped,” alone, unharmed and near steep terrain. The Apple representative performing our demo also opted to notify the emergency contacts set up on the Watch Ultra 3.
Cherlynn Low for Engadget
Once that was done, the watch displayed an interface similar to the version on the iPhone, featuring a glowing arc and translucent image of the earth. Words on the screen said “Try to get a clear view of the sky” and guided the wearer in various directions to attempt to connect to satellites passing overhead. After a link was established, the words “Sending report” appeared with a progress bar below.
We had to wait a minute and a half for the message to go through, which is quite long, but it was probably not the usual amount of time. At about 25 seconds in, it seemed like the connection was lost and had to be re-established. That may seem like a long while to hold your wrist up, but Apple did say you only need to lift your arm while establishing a connection to the satellite and not while the information was being sent. I believe the rep only had their arm up so we could more easily see the screen.
Finally, when the report had been delivered, the Watch Ultra 3 took us to the Message window showing a confirmation that the request had been received. It also tells the wearer to reply with “Stop” if emergency services were not or no longer required.
Using satellites to send Messages and your location
Outside of using satellite communications when you’re in need of emergency services, you can also send messages or share your location when you’re off the grid. This, again, mirrors the iPhone version of this service. You can go to the Find My app on the Watch Ultra 3 to share your location when you’re out of coverage, and your position can be shared up to once every 15 minutes to previously added contacts. In the Messages app on the watch, you can contact people you’ve chatted with in the last 30 days.
In my experience, it was easiest to add Satellite as a complication to a watch face. Tapping the button will bring up the Satellite screen with options to try a demo, go to Messages, share your location or contact emergency services. Like on the iPhone, the demo is there for users to get familiar with the process of connecting to a satellite, so they’re not completely unfamiliar in high pressure situations.
Unfortunately, as I spent most of my time with the Ultra 3 so far in areas that had good coverage and signal, I never really got a chance to try to send a message or my location via satellite. First world problems, I know. I’ll embark on an adventure upstate soon to check it out, though, and will report back after.
Those unfamiliar with Messages or Find My via Satellite on iPhones may wonder why those features exist. It’s not just for the frivolous desire to play with a novel feature. You can send texts, emojis and tapback reactions to let a loved one know you arrived in the desert safely for Burning Man, for example. Texts go through with a delivery message that says “sent via Satellite,” so your recipient will understand you have limited connectivity and can’t engage in a full-blown tea-spilling session right then.
Or, if you’re like my partner and sometimes go camping in the middle of nowhere, sharing your location when you’ve arrived at your campsite can bring some peace of mind. (Note: I don’t go camping.) My partner tends to favor forested areas, though, where satellite connectivity would struggle with the dense foliage, hampering its usefulness.
To be very clear, emergency SOS via Satellite will be supported on all models of the Watch Ultra 3, but satellite communications for Messages and Find My require a paid cellular plan. With all purchases of the Ultra 3, Apple is providing two years of satellite service for emergency, Messages and Find My.
Apple Watch Ultra 3 vs Pixel Watch 4: The satellite comparison
That’s somewhat similar to Google’s approach for the Pixel Watch 4, where Satellite SOS “is included at no additional charge for 2 years after launch.” However, only the LTE models of the Pixel Watch support its satellite feature, and it’s only available in the contiguous United States at the moment. Google’s version also uses Skylo’s Narrowband Non-Terrestrial Network (NB-NTN), and adopts similar haptic and audio cues to the Watch Ultra 3’s in the connecting process. One area that appears to be different is that the Pixel Watch 4 will offer a “check replies” button that Google says “guides you to re-establish connection for updates from emergency services as needed.”
Meanwhile, Apple’s Find My and emergency satellite features will work in 18 countries at launch, including the US, UK, Japan, Switzerland, Australia and others. Messages via satellite is limited to Mexico, Canada and the US at the moment.
Cherlynn Low for Engadget
Other testing impressions of the Apple Watch Ultra 3
As I continue to put the Watch Ultra 3 through its paces, it’s worth noting what changes the latest model has over its predecessor. Like I mentioned, it has a larger display while maintaining the same size, thanks to thinner bezels (which Apple said are 24 percent slimmer). It also uses an LTPO 3 panel that enables a faster refresh rate in Always On mode, as well as wide-angle OLEDs for easier reading at off angles.
I’ve found the Watch Ultra 3 lightweight and comfortable to wear so far, and I enjoy tapping buttons or reading messages on its 49mm screen. Unfortunately, I am also a person who wears long-sleeved shirts that are snug at the wrist, making the bigger watches a harder sell, especially as the weather gets colder here in New York. I did find it amusing when the Night mode got triggered any time I tucked the Ultra 3 under my sleeve, turning the watch face’s dials, complications and other elements red.
The Watch Ultra 3 gets the same 5G support, hypertension notifications and Sleep Score as the Series 11, along with watchOS 26 upgrades like Workout Buddy and Liquid Glass. I need a few more days with the Ultra 3 before I can vouch for its 42-hour battery estimate, but it’s nice to see longer runtimes on an endurance watch.
My evaluation of those new features and whether they add up to a meaningful package will be ready soon in a full review. In the meantime, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is available for pre-order and will arrive in stores on September 19.
A large Cleveland Clinic study has found that people with obesity and type 2 diabetes who undergo weight-loss surgery live longer and face fewer serious health problems compared with those treated with GLP-1 receptor agonist medicines alone.
Patients who had weight-loss surgery (also known as bariatric or metabolic surgery) lost more weight, achieved better blood sugar control, and relied less on diabetes and heart medications over 10 years. The research is published in Nature Medicine.
“Even with today’s best medicines, metabolic surgery offers unique and lasting benefits for people with obesity and diabetes,” said Ali Aminian, M.D., director of Cleveland Clinic’s Bariatric & Metabolic Institute and primary investigator of the study. “The benefits we observed went beyond weight loss. Surgery was linked to fewer heart problems, less kidney disease, and even lower rates of diabetes-related eye damage.”
GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) receptor agonists are a class of medications widely used to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity and to reduce health risks. Both metabolic surgery and GLP-1 medicines improve cardiovascular health and metabolism.
The M6 study (Macrovascular and Microvascular Morbidity and Mortality after Metabolic Surgery versus Medicines) followed 3,932 adults with diabetes and obesity who received care at Cleveland Clinic for up to 10 years. Among them, 1,657 underwent metabolic surgery (including gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy), while 2,275 were treated with GLP-1 medicines (including liraglutide, dulaglutide, exenatide, semaglutide, and tirzepatide).
At the end of the study, patients who had metabolic surgery had a:
32% lower risk of death
35% lower risk of major heart problems (such as heart attack, heart failure, or stroke)
47% lower risk of serious kidney disease
54% lower risk of diabetes-related eye damage (retinopathy)
On average, people who had metabolic surgery lost 21.6% of their body weight over 10 years, compared with 6.8% weight loss in people who took GLP-1 medicines. Hemoglobin A1c, a marker of average blood sugar, improved more with surgery (-0.86%) than with GLP-1 medicines (-0.23%). Patients in the surgery group also required fewer prescriptions for diabetes, blood pressure, and cholesterol.
Even in the era of these powerful new drugs to treat obesity and diabetes, metabolic surgery may provide additional benefits, including a survival advantage.”
Steven Nissen, M.D., Chief Academic Officer of the Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute at Cleveland Clinic and senior author of the study
“Our findings indicate that surgery should remain an important treatment option for obesity and diabetes,” said Dr. Aminian. “These long-term benefits are harder to achieve with GLP-1 medicines alone, as many patients stop using the medications over time.”
According to the authors, the study has some limitations. It was observational rather than a randomized comparison of drugs and surgery, and it did not focus exclusively on the newest and most effective GLP-1 medicines. The researchers note that future studies should directly compare surgery with newer GLP-1 therapies, such as semaglutide and tirzepatide, to further guide treatment decisions.
Source:
Journal reference:
Gasoyan, H., et al. (2025). Macrovascular and microvascular outcomes of metabolic surgery versus GLP-1 receptor agonists in patients with diabetes and obesity. Nature Medicine. doi.org/10.1038/s41591-025-03893-3
Born and raised in Heusden-Zolder, Belgium, not far from Circuit Zolder, host of the Belgian Grand Prix when John Watson won for McLaren in 1982, Dries began karting from the age of eight. His potential shone through from an early age as he became the NK Rookie Champion just a year later, in 2019, and the Mini 60 Dutch Champion in 2020. The trophies continued, pricking the ears of the McLaren Driver Development programme, and in 2023, he was crowned world karting champion in the OK Junior class, earning him a spot in the programme.
The team’s faith was repaid as he followed this up with another four title wins, including the European Karting Championship in the OK Junior Class and the WSK Super Masters Series.
“The World Championship and European Championship are the biggest karting championships you could possibly win,” he smiles. “Those were two special and enjoyable years of my career. I had an awesome time with the team, the relationships were really good, and the Championships were really special to win.”
Dries’ continued growth and on-track success convinced the team that he deserved a chance in a single-seater. A comprehensive programme was put in place to assess whether he was ready to take the next step and to support that transition.
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Often discussed is the difficulty of stepping up to F1 from Formula 2 or from Formula 4 to Formula 3, but the jump between a go-kart and a single-seater is massive.
The open-wheel Tatuus F4-T421 cars used in Formula 4 are fitted with a 1.4-litre turbocharged Abarth engine, producing around 185hp, with a top speed over 240km/h. They’re like nothing he’d have ever driven before.
“It’s a bit claustrophobic,” he laughs, when asked about his first experience in the car. “With the belts on, it is super tight, compared to karting, where you are almost completely open.
“It is completely different, and the first time you’re in the car, it is a little weird, but once you are used to it, it feels like you’ve been doing it for years. Karting is not completely different to the world of formula cars, but all of the basics you learn, in terms of how the kart handles and drivers, are completely different to a car. There is a lot to learn the first time. The testing was good. It’s a difficult step, but I enjoyed it.”
The Islamabad High Court has ordered the removal of the Chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) from office.
The court accepted the petition seeking the chairman’s removal, declaring that his appointment was not made in accordance with the law.
The Islamabad High Court directed that the chairman be removed from his position immediately. It further instructed that a senior member of the PTA be appointed as acting chairman temporarily.
Justice Babar Sattar, who had earlier reserved the verdict, announced the decision today. The judgment spans 99 pages and was authored by Justice Sattar.
The Islamabad High Court, in response to a petition filed by digital rights activist Usama Khilji, declared that the appointment of Major General (R) Hafeez Ur Rehman as Chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) was not legally valid.
The court found that the creation of the post of Member (Administration), through which Rehman first entered PTA before becoming Chairman, was unlawful. The position did not exist under the original PTA Appointment Rules, and amendments were made after the recruitment advertisement had already been issued. The court concluded this process was tailored to accommodate a preselected candidate.
Justice Babar Sattar emphasized that appointments to public offices must follow transparent, merit-based procedures and cannot be manipulated to favor specific individuals.
The judgment, spread across 99 pages, also highlighted the critical role of PTA in safeguarding digital rights, consumer interests, and fair regulation of Pakistan’s telecom sector.
The court ordered the immediate removal of the chairman and directed that the senior-most PTA member take charge as acting chairman until a lawful appointment is made.
President Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday met Yin Tongyue, Chairman of the Board of Chery Holding Co., Ltd. and Chery Automobile Co., Ltd., in Shanghai.
During the meeting, President Zardari assured the Chairman that the Government of Pakistan would provide policy support for new energy vehicles, electric buses and local production of components.
The president encouraged Chery to explore joint ventures in electric buses, mini trucks, green energy solutions and charging infrastructure. He also highlighted opportunities for collaboration with Pakistani companies in manufacturing, minerals and energy storage solutions. President Zardari was accompanied by First Lady Bibi Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, and Senator Saleem Mandviwalla.
Mr Yin briefed the president and his delegation on Chery Auto’s global operations, its commitment to technological innovation, and its achievements in international markets.
President Zardari thanked Mr Yin for his detailed briefing and welcomed Chery Auto’s growing interest in Pakistan. He appreciated the company’s plans to introduce electric buses and pursue localisation, noting that these steps would help generate employment opportunities for young people in the country.
Sindh Ministers Sharjeel Inam Memon and Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, and Pakistan’s Ambassador to China, Khalil Hashmi were also present during the meeting.
Syn-AKE is a synthetic peptide that has garnered considerable interest due to its unique biochemical properties and potential implications in various research domains. Modeled after a sequence found in the venom of the Temple Viper (Tropidolaemus wagleri), Syn-AKE is a pentapeptide designed to mimic the inhibitory properties of snake venom on specific cellular mechanisms, particularly those related to muscular contraction and signaling pathways.
This article examines the molecular properties of Syn-AKE, its proposed mechanisms of action, and the expanding realm of research areas where this peptide may offer valuable insights.
Molecular Characteristics and Mechanism of Action
Syn-AKE is composed of five amino acids: Acetyl-Lysine-Threonine-Threonine-Lysine-Serine, which is structurally designed to imitate Waglerin-1, an endogenous peptide found in the venom of the Temple Viper. The endogenous peptide has been suggested to interfere with neuromuscular communication by targeting nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) on muscle cells, thereby modulating muscle cell contraction.
Research indicates that Syn-AKE might act as a competitive antagonist or allosteric modulator at these receptor sites, potentially reducing receptor activation by acetylcholine or related neurotransmitters. The peptide’s potential to support receptor-ligand interactions may alter downstream intracellular signaling pathways, particularly those involved in calcium flux and muscle fiber contraction cycles. This molecular mimicry is hypothesized to translate into modulation of muscular tissue tension and contractile responses in various tissues.
Syn-AKE’s support on Cellular Signaling and Muscular Tissue Dynamics
The central mechanism attributed to Syn-AKE involves its interaction with nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, which play critical roles in transmitting signals from neurons to muscular tissue fibers. By supporting these receptor interactions, Syn-AKE is believed to modulate intracellular calcium levels, a key secondary messenger in muscle cell contraction and cellular signaling.
In research models, this modulation may lead to a decrease in the frequency or intensity of muscle cell contraction cycles. Such support may extend to studies examining the regulation of muscle tone, cellular excitability, and the molecular mechanisms underlying contraction and relaxation dynamics in research models. The peptide’s potential to modulate receptor function suggests that it might be a valuable tool for probing the biochemistry of receptor-ligand interactions and synaptic transmission.
Potential Implications in Research Domains
Neuropharmacology and Receptor Function
Given its targeted activity on nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, Syn-AKE is thought to be exploited as a molecular probe in neuropharmacology to dissect receptor subtype functionality and synaptic transmission pathways. It has been theorized that the peptide’s receptor-specific binding properties may aid in delineating receptor conformations associated with activation versus inhibition states.
Such research may contribute to a broader understanding of cholinergic signaling in the central and peripheral nervous systems, illuminating receptor dynamics in neuromuscular junctions and neuronal communication. Studies suggest that Syn-AKE might also facilitate the development of receptor models for screening receptor modulators or antagonists in research discovery, providing a biochemical tool for characterizing receptor interactions.
Muscle Cell Physiology and Contractility Studies
The peptide’s interaction with muscle cell receptors posits it as a candidate molecule for exploring muscle cell contractility regulation. Investigations purport that Syn-AKE may support excitation-contraction coupling by modulating receptor-mediated signaling cascades. This may aid in dissecting the molecular control of muscular tissue tension and the signaling pathways governing muscular tissue relaxation and contraction cycles.
Moreover, research indicates that Syn-AKE might be applied in research focusing on muscular tissue fatigue, tone regulation, or pathologies characterized by altered muscle cell contractility. By providing a means to modulate receptor function selectively, the peptide may aid in clarifying the cellular processes underlying muscular responses to neural inputs.
Cell Signaling and Calcium Homeostasis
Calcium ions serve as ubiquitous secondary messengers critical for numerous cellular functions, including muscular tissue contraction, enzyme activation, and gene expression. Syn-AKE’s potential to alter nicotinic receptor activity implicates it in modulating calcium influx pathways.
Research in this area may investigate how Syn-AKE might affect intracellular calcium concentrations, thereby contributing to a deeper understanding of calcium homeostasis and signaling.
Research models utilizing fluorescent calcium indicators or electrophysiological techniques might explore how peptide exposure alters calcium dynamics within muscle cells or neurons. These insights may have broader implications for cellular excitability, neurotransmission, and receptor signaling paradigms.
Broader Implications in Biochemical and Pharmaceutical Research
The unique properties of Syn-AKE highlight the growing interest in peptide-based modulators of receptor function, reflecting a paradigm shift toward highly selective biochemical tools in experimental research. By mimicking venom peptides, Syn-AKE exemplifies how nature-inspired molecules might be harnessed to study complex molecular systems.
In pharmaceutical research, the peptide has been hypothesized to serve as a lead compound or scaffold for designing receptor modulators with defined specificity profiles. While direct experimental implications are beyond the scope of this discussion, the peptide’s potential to modulate cholinergic signaling pathways offers a conceptual framework for developing agents that might support neuromuscular function or receptor-mediated cellular processes in various contexts.
Investigative Challenges and Future Directions
Several intriguing questions remain regarding Syn-AKE’s precise molecular interactions and the breadth of its potential support on cellular physiology:
Receptor Specificity: It has been hypothesized that Syn-AKE’s binding affinity and selectivity toward different nicotinic receptor subtypes may vary, affecting its modulation profile. Detailed binding assays and structural studies may clarify these receptor preferences. Intracellular Pathways: The downstream intracellular signaling cascades triggered or suppressed by Syn-AKE binding remain a fertile area for investigation. Exploring second messenger dynamics and phosphorylation events might elucidate the peptide’s broader support for cellular metabolism. Structure-Function Relationships: Modifying the peptide’s amino acid sequence may reveal critical residues responsible for receptor interaction and functional modulation. Systematic peptide analog studies might optimize its biochemical properties for better-supported research implications. Cross-Species Receptor Interactions: The conservation of nicotinic receptors across research models suggests potential for Syn-AKE to be broadly relevant in comparative receptor biology, advancing evolutionary and functional insights.
Conclusion
Syn-AKE represents a compelling synthetic peptide model with distinct molecular properties derived from endogenous venom peptides. Its putative modulation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors positions it as a valuable tool for elucidating neuromuscular signaling and receptor dynamics in research domains. The peptide’s potential to support receptor-ligand interactions and downstream calcium signaling pathways might inform diverse fields, including neuropharmacology, muscular tissue physiology, and molecular biology.
As research models continue to evolve, the exploration of Syn-AKE’s structural and functional properties promises to expand our comprehension of receptor-mediated processes and peptide-based molecular tools. The convergence of synthetic peptide design and receptor biology encapsulated by Syn-AKE may foster innovative approaches to dissect complex biochemical systems, ultimately enriching the toolkit available to scientific investigation. Visit this website for more.
References
[i] McArdle, J. J., Lentz, T. L., Witzemann, V., Schwarz, H., Weinstein, S. A., & Schmidt, J. J. (1999). Waglerin‑1 selectively blocks the epsilon form of the muscle nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, 289(1), 543–550.
[ii] Flores‑Maldonado, C., et al. (2002). Residues in the ε subunit of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor interact to confer selectivity of waglerin‑1 for the α–ε subunit interface site. Biochemistry, 41(23), 7563–7571.
[iii] Author(s). (2014). A shortened, protecting group‑free synthesis of the anti‑wrinkle venom analogue Syn‑Ake® exploiting an optimized Hofmann‑type rearrangement. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 67, 230–235.
[iv] [MDPI authors]. (2024). Wrinkle‑improving effect of novel peptide that binds to nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 25(14), Article 6901.
[v] Utkin, Y. N. (2018). Snake venom peptides: Tools of biodiscovery. Toxins, 10(9), 322.
Today, as some private interests and public officials call for government funding to construct more oil pipelines across Canada to increase oil exports, it is worth taking a closer look at the financial quagmire of the Trans Mountain Expansion pipeline (TMX)—a project that is no model to follow.
The Canadian government bailed out the poorly conceived, financially troubled oil pipeline project in 2018 by purchasing it from the Texas-based energy infrastructure giant Kinder Morgan. As explained in this report, construction costs and government financial support then escalated significantly, including a recent influx of additional cash from the government in 2024.
The chances for recouping public funds that have been sunken into the TMX are slim. The high cost of the pipeline—which runs from Edmonton, Alberta, to Burnaby, B.C.—has put enormous pressure on the pipeline toll-setting process, resulting in vociferous objections from the pipeline’s shippers. Meanwhile, the oil market is increasingly beset by uncertainties that pose risks to TMX’s long-term profit margin.
In the context of trade issues between Canada and the United States, some have suggested building new oil pipelines to gain access to refineries in central and eastern Canada, or to increase exports to Asia. This report recommends that such ideas be scrutinized, given the potential risk to taxpayer funds. Market conditions do not favor a long-term reliance on Asia for oil exports. Major new oil pipeline construction could lead to government-funded bailouts, as has been seen with the TMX—resulting in substantial outlays of public money that may never be recovered.
