engleski

Identification of key molecules underlying neuronal regeneration in the opossum spinal cord using proteomics

One of the major challenges of modern biology concerns the inability of the adult mammalian central nervous system (CNS) to regenerate and repair itself after injury. A preferred model to study and reveal cellular and molecular basis of regeneration is neonatal opossum (Monodelphis domestica). Opossums are marsupials that are born very immature, with unique possibility to successfully regenerate spinal cord after injury in the first two weeks of their life. After that, the regenerative capacity of their spinal tissue is abruptly lost. Thus, in neonatal opossums the mammalian CNS that still can regenerate is available and can be studied, without a need of invasive intrauterine surgery of pregnant females (like necessary for other mammalian laboratory animals, such as mouse or rat). In this study, we will compare the protein content of the spinal tissue of neonatal opossums of different age (P5 and P17), to pinpoint the key differences. To our knowledge, this is the first attempt to compare the proteoms of non- injured mammalian CNS tissue with different regenerative capacities, to reveal the basic molecular processes underlying regeneration. The neonatal opossum spinal tissue protein samples were purified, digested and analyzed using MALDI-TOF/TOF MS instrument. The most interesting proteins differently present in the opossum tissue that can and cannot regenerate will be chosen for further functional regenerative tests. The results of this study will hopefully help to complete our knowledge about molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in mammalian CNS regeneration.

proteomics, mass spectrometry, regeneration, spinal cord

nije evidentirano