An international team of neuroscientists, led by Duke-NUS Medical School, have uncovered a mechanism that controls the reactivation of neural stem cells, which are crucial for repairing and regenerating brain cells.
The research, published in Nature Communications, offers exciting potential for advancing our understanding and treatment of common neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimers and Parkinsons disease.
Neural stem cells are the source of the brains primary functional cells. After the initial development of the brain, neural stem cells typically enter a dormant state, conserving energy and resources. They re-awaken only when the brain needs them, such as after an injury or with physical exercise. However, with age, fewer neural stem cells can be roused from their dormant state, leading to various neurological conditions. Understanding how this reactivation is regulated is essential for developing treatments for various neurological conditions.
In this study, the team discovered that a specific grou
p of proteins play an essential role in “waking up” dormant neural stem cells through a process called SUMOylation.
In SUMOylation, a small protein named SUMO (small ubiquitin-like modifier) tags target proteins inside a cell to influence their activity and/or function. These SUMO-tagged proteins, the researchers found, trigger the reactivation of neural stem cells, allowing them to contribute to brain development and repair.
Professor Wang Hongyan, senior author of the study, said: “Our findings arent just relevant for fruit flies. Theyre also important for understanding human biology. Disruptions in the SUMOylation process and Hippo pathway are linked to various illnesses in humans, including cancer and neurodegenerative diseases, like Alzheimer.” Professor Patrick Tan, Senior Vice-Dean for Research at Duke-NUS, commented: “This discovery advances our understanding of how cells work and are controlled, informing the development of new regenerative therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases. At the same t
ime, it opens new possibilities for developing treatments for neurological conditions such as microcephaly.”
Source: Qatar News Agency