Axon regeneration mechanisms: Insights from C. elegans

Lizhen Chen, Andrew D. Chisholm

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

31 Scopus citations

Abstract

Understanding the mechanisms of axon regeneration is of great importance to the development of therapeutic treatments for spinal cord injury or stroke. Axon regeneration has long been studied in diverse vertebrate and invertebrate models, but until recently had not been analyzed in the genetically tractable model organism Caenorhabditis elegans. The small size, simple neuroanatomy, and transparency of C. elegans allows single fluorescently labeled axons to be severed in live animals using laser microsurgery. Many neurons in C. elegans are capable of regenerative regrowth, and can in some cases re-establish functional connections. Large-scale genetic screens have begun to elucidate the genetic basis of axon regrowth.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)577-584
Number of pages8
JournalTrends in Cell Biology
Volume21
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2011
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cell Biology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Axon regeneration mechanisms: Insights from C. elegans'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this