Originally published October 28 2005
Neurobiologist makes discovery about the development of the central nervous system
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Dr. Wen-Cheng Xiong, developmental neurobiologist, has published a study that maps the role of lipids in the development of the central nervous system.
It's already helped them understand the ailments of a spontaneous mouse mutant that has about 20 percent function of the protein that helps the lipid get to the cell surface so it can help axons grow, says Dr. Wen-Cheng Xiong, developmental neurobiologist and corresponding author on the study published in the November issue of Nature Cell Biology.
"But what we found is this particular lipid is regulated; it's like a signaling molecule.
Especially during axon growth, the dynamic regulation is more dramatic."
It's been known that many proteins can be regulated, especially signaling proteins that enable intracellular chatter.
The mouse mutant is a clear example of what can happen when the lipids don't travel.
The researchers also studied a similar mutant chick embryo that had reduced axon growth.
For this paper, they added the zebrafish embryo, which forms most of its major organs within the first 24 hours and remains transparent for the first few days of life, to further document the role of these regulated lipids and their transfer protein.
When they injected an agent that blocks expression of a related lipid transport protein, the next they could see the impact on axon growth and neuron survival, says Dr. David J. Kozlowski, developmental geneticist and director of the MCG Transgenic Zebrafish Core Laboratory.
"It shows this protein is critical for development," Dr. Xiong says of repeated findings.
Next they'll use a version of the transgenic zebrafish that will enable them to watch axon development -- or lack of it -- in live embryos and in real time, Dr. Kozlowski says.
MCG contributors included the laboratories of Drs. Xiong and Kozlowski as well as Dr. Lin Mei, program chief in Developmental Neurobiology and Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar in Neuroscience.
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