Cluster member Prof. Bradke, who works at the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) and his group have identified a group of proteins that help to regenerate damaged nerve cells. Their findings are reported in the journal "Neuron".
It is commonly accepted that neurons of the central nervous system shut down their ability to grow when they no longer need it; this occurs normally after they have found their target cells and established synapses. However, recent findings show that old nerve cells have the potential to regrow and to repair damage similar to young neurons. The underlying mechanisms for this rejuvenation have now been uncovered in laboratory studies led by the team of Professor Frank Bradke at the DZNE's Bonn site together with scientists of the University of Bonn.
Publication
ADF/Cofilin-Mediated Actin Turnover Promotes Axon Regeneration in the Adult CNS. Andrea Tedeschi, Sebastian Dupraz, Michele Curcio, Claudia J. Laskowski, Barbara Schaffran et al. Neuron (2019). DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2019.07.007
