Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 12, 2026
08:51
Genome-wide RNAi Screening to Identify Host Factors That Modulate Oncolytic Virus Therapy
Published on: April 3, 2018
9.5K
Functional Genome-wide Screen Identifies Pathways Restricting Central Nervous System Axonal Regeneration.
Yuichi Sekine1, Alexander Lin-Moore2, Devon M Chenette1
1Program in Cellular Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration & Repair, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06536, USA; Department of Neurology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06536, USA.
Cell Reports
|April 12, 2018
Summary
Scientists identified genes that block nerve regrowth after brain and spinal cord injuries. Blocking Rab27 improved nerve regeneration and motor function in mice, offering hope for CNS injury recovery.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Genetics
- Regenerative Medicine
Background:
- Axonal regrowth is essential for recovery from central nervous system (CNS) injuries.
- Regeneration is significantly limited in adult mammals, hindering neurological recovery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a genome-wide loss-of-function screen to identify factors that restrict axonal regeneration from cerebral cortical neurons.
- To uncover novel molecular pathways and targets for enhancing CNS repair.
Main Methods:
- A large-scale genetic screen involving the knockdown of 16,007 individual genes in vitro.
- In vivo validation in Caenorhabditis elegans and mouse models (Rab27b knockout mice).
Main Results:
- Identified 580 genes and pathways (including transport, receptor binding, and cytokine signaling) that limit axonal regeneration.
- Rab GTPases, particularly Rab27, were highlighted as key regulators.
- Loss of Rab27b in mice led to enhanced retinal ganglion cell axon regeneration and improved motor function after spinal cord injury.
Conclusions:
- A comprehensive functional screen revealed multiple molecular pathways restricting axonal regeneration.
- Targeting specific genes, such as Rab27b, holds therapeutic potential for improving neurological recovery after CNS injury.
Related Concept Videos
01:25What is a Nervous System?
105.3K
Overview
105.3K
01:15Neurogenesis and Regeneration of Nervous Tissue
1.8K
In the CNS, neurogenesis, the birth of new neurons from stem cells, is limited to the hippocampus in adults. In other regions of the brain and spinal cord, neurogenesis is almost non-existent due to inhibitory influences from neuroglia, especially oligodendrocytes, and the absence of growth-stimulating cues. The myelin produced by oligodendrocytes in the CNS inhibits neuronal regeneration. Furthermore, astrocytes proliferate rapidly after neuronal damage, forming scar tissue that physically...
1.8K
01:18Functions of the Nervous System
7.5K
The nervous system is responsible for coordinating and regulating the body's functions. It functions through three main processes: sensory, integrative, and motor processes. Sensory function involves the detection and transmission of information about internal and external stimuli from sensory receptors to the CNS. The CNS processes this information through an integrative function, where it interprets and makes decisions based on the incoming sensory information. Finally, the motor function...
7.5K
01:11Genome-wide Association Studies-GWAS
15.8K
Genome-wide association studies or GWAS are used to identify whether common SNPs are associated with certain diseases. Suppose specific SNPs are more frequently observed in individuals with a particular disease than those without the disease. In that case, those SNPs are said to be associated with the disease. Chi-square analysis is performed to check the probability of the allele likely to be associated with the disease.
GWAS does not require the identification of the target gene involved in...
GWAS does not require the identification of the target gene involved in...
15.8K
02:02Genomics
40.9K
Genomics is the science of genomes: it is the study of all the genetic material of an organism. In humans, the genome consists of information carried in 23 pairs of chromosomes in the nucleus, as well as mitochondrial DNA. In genomics, both coding and non-coding DNA is sequenced and analyzed. Genomics allows a better understanding of all living things, their evolution, and their diversity. It has a myriad of uses: for example, to build phylogenetic trees, to improve productivity and...
40.9K
01:23Functional Divisions of the Nervous System
8.6K
The nervous system, responsible for sensing, integrating, and responding to various stimuli, is divided into the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS). The PNS has two functional divisions: the sensory or afferent division and the motor or efferent division.
The sensory division transmits information from sensory receptors in the body to the CNS. It provides the CNS with knowledge about somatic senses (such as tactile, thermal, pain, and proprioceptive sensations)...
The sensory division transmits information from sensory receptors in the body to the CNS. It provides the CNS with knowledge about somatic senses (such as tactile, thermal, pain, and proprioceptive sensations)...
8.6K