CS-GAG's Ability to Modulate Intracellular Calcium and its Influence on cAMP levels in the Growth Cones
Mary Millner
Following injury to the central nervous system, regeneration does not occur. Some of the key players preventing regeneration from occurring are chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs), a class of inhibitory molecules present in the glial scar formed after injury. The mechanism by which these molecules inhibit regeneration is poorly understood. This research project focuses on finding a better understanding the role of CSPGs after injury. There are two main focuses of this project.
- The first focus is to determine the effect of CSPGs on intracellular calcium levels after injury and how it affects growth cone behavior. Polystyrene beads coupled with CSPGs are brought into contact with growth cones of dissociated DRG (dorsal root ganglion) neurons. Calcium levels will be determined using calcium sensitive dyes.
- The second focus is to find a peptide that specifically binds to CSPGs. In doing so we hope to gain further insight into how CSPGs interact with axons thus preventing regeneration. Phage display will be utilized for this aim.