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Institute of Neurobiochemistry

Molecular basis of axonal growth and regeneration

Head: Christine Bandtlow, PhD

secretariat:

Tel.:+43-512-9003-70281

Fax.: +43-512-9003-73280

Main Goals, Keywords

Characterization of myelin-associated neurite growth inhibitors and their cognate receptors in the central nervous system. Signal transduction of neurite growth inhibitors in the brain with special emphasis on effects on cytoskeletal changes in neuronal growth cones.

Previous and Current Research

Injuries to the axons of neurons in the CNS (brain and spinal cord) of higher vertebrates normally lead to irreversible damage since neither neurons nor their axons can regenerate. One of the major impediments to regeneration are growth repulsive and inhibitory molecules present in myelin. Recent efforts by many laboratories have lead to the identification of Nogo, myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) and chondroitin-sulfate proteoglycans as the main inhibitors of neurite growth. They are known to act on the sensory apparatus of growing axons, the growth cone. The growth cone at the tip of extending axons can therefore be considered as a specialized structure that recognizes and distinguishes the presence of extracellular signals and transduces this informations into directed axonal growth. A three-dimensional filamentous meshwork, the cytoskeleton, appears to be the molecular base for growth cone movements. In particular, changes in the internal organisation of actin filaments and microtubuli determines not only the shape of growth cone structures but also their motility and growth direction. Our main research interests are the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which repulsive molecules are transduced to cytoskeletal re-arrangements.

Growth cones of embryonic day 15 chick dorsal root ganglion

neurons stained with various antibodies against total proteins (DTAF),

F-actin (Rh-Phalloidin),

tyrosinylated alpha-tubulin (Tyr-tubulin, green) and de-tyrosinylated

alpha-tubulin (Detyr-tubulin, yellow).

Possible crosstalk of attractive and repulsive axonal guidance molecules in

regulating growth cone behaviour

Future Projects

We will continue our efforts to identify the neuronal receptors and binding molecules of myelin associated neurite growth inhibitors, their signal transduction mechanisms, with special emphasis on the possible involvement of small GTP-binding molecules of the rho-family, calcium transients and down-stream effectors.

Techniques and Equipment

Modern biochemical and molecular biological techniques, cell culture work on primary neuronal and glial cells including video-time-lapse microscopy, calcium imaging, and confocal immunocytochemistry.

Selected Lectures, Seminars or Colloquia

1. Biochemistry and Chemistry

2. Neurobiology Seminar

Funding

Swiss National Science Foundation

Österreichische Nationalbank

Positions

Positions for Diploma and PhD thesis projects

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 Lectures