Deciphering of RhoA-mediated signaling pathways and their role in regeneration

• Applicant: Dr. Sina Stern
• Subject Area: Molecular Biology and Physiology of Neurons and Glial Cells
• Term: from 2013 to 2016
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 247813351

The poor regenerative behavior of the central nervous system is a serious clinical problem. Roughly three million people worldwide suffer at an irreversible spinal cord injury (called paraplegia, if only the legs are affected or tetraplegia, if arms and legs are affected). There might be 100.000 new patients per year. Despite the fact that there is ongoing research in the field of spinal cord regeneration, all approaches so far are still unsatisfying. The GTPase RhoA is supposed to be one key obstacle of regeneration in the central nervous system. It was shown that many inhibitors of regeneration act via RhoA. However the question how and via which downstream molecules RhoA can inhibit regeneration is still open.My project aims to answer that question. To address this I will study regeneration in RhoA knockout mice. For the first time the dependence of neurite outgrowth and regeneration on RhoA will be investigated in these mice. The focus of the study will be the downstream signalling molecules of the RhoA pathway. For the investigations I will use in vitro and in vivo models.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants