Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
CHAPTER THREE
Molecular Control of Axon
Growth: Insights from
Comparative Gene Profiling and
High-Throughput Screening
Murray G. Blackmore
1
Department of Biomedical Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
1
Corresponding author: e-mail address: murray.blackmore@marquette.edu
Contents
1.
Introduction
40
2. Comparisons Across CNS Development
41
2.1 Correlative and functional tests of gene function
41
2.2 Expression profiling of developmentally regulated genes
44
2.3
In vitro screening of developmentally regulated genes
44
3. Comparisons Across Species
46
3.1 Correlative and functional tests of gene function
46
3.2 Gene profiling in zebrafish
47
3.3 Screening in nonmammalian species
48
4. Peripheral Versus Central Nervous System
49
4.1 Correlative and functional tests of gene function
49
4.2 Expression profiling and Bioinformatic analysis of PNS injury-induced genes
53
4.3
In vitro screening of PNS injury-induced genes
57
5. Conclusions and Future Directions
59
Acknowledgments
61
References
61
Abstract
Axon regeneration in the mammalian adult central nervous system (CNS) is limited by
an intrinsically low capacity for axon growth in many CNS neurons. In contrast, embry-
onic, peripheral, and many nonmammalian neurons are capable of successful regener-
ation. Numerous studies have compared mammalian CNS neurons to their counterparts
in regenerating systems in an effort to identify candidate genes that control regener-
ative ability. This review summarizes work using this comparative strategy and examines
our current understanding of gene function in axon growth, highlighting the emer-
gence of genome-wide expression profiling and high-throughput screening strategies
to identify novel regulators of axon growth.
