Protein called ADM-4 enables injured nerve cell repair by membrane fusion
19 April 2022
Healing with Elgans
Neurobiologists are searching for novel ways to repair nerves after injury. While our neurons often struggle to heal on their own, those in injured nematode worms (C.elegans) fuse the fragile axons back together – highlighted here in different colours. Delving inside the worm, researchers find a protein called EFF-1, a fusogen that helps cell membranes merge together. Another protein, ADM-4, supports EFF-1 when sticking together wounded neurons – even stepping in to prune away old EFF-1 to make way for new connections. Humans have a version of the ADM-4 gene, so work is underway to see if it can be coaxed to help axon fusion in a similar way, healing nerves to prevent paralysis in the future.
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