MAINTENANCE OF NERVOUS SYSTEM STRUCTURE OVER TIME
Axonal degeneration can occur as a result of nerve injury or through the disruption of neuronal maintenance mechanisms, and is a hallmark of neurodegenerative disorders such as motor neuron, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Charcot-Marie-Tooth diseases. Despite the importance of this process, we lack a complete understanding of the molecules and mechanisms employed by neurons to preserve their axons over a lifetime, which has hampered the development of effective therapies.
We aim to identify and characterise the cellular mechanisms necessary for the maintenance of axonal structure over an animals’ lifetime, such that when these factors are disrupted by genetic mutation axonal degeneration occurs. We identify these factors using candidate gene approaches and forward genetic screening techniques in C. elegans.
Representative Publications
Teoh JS, Wang W, Chandhok G, Pocock R, Neumann B (2019). Development and maintenance of synaptic structure is mediated by the alpha-tubulin acetyltransferase MEC-17/αTAT1. bioRxiv 522904; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/522904.
Ritchie FK*, Knable R*, Chaplin J*, Gursanscky R, Gallegos M, Neumann B, and Hilliard MA (2017). The heterochronic gene lin-14 controls axonal degeneration in C. elegans neurons. Cell Reports 20(12): 2955-2965. Journal link.
Media release. Brief summary. Short commentary by Cell Reports.
Media release. Brief summary. Short commentary by Cell Reports.
Nichols ALA, Meelkop E, Linton C, Giordano-Santini R, Sullivan RK, Donato A, Nolan C, Hall DH, Xue D, Neumann B*, and Hilliard MA* (2016). The apoptotic engulfment machinery regulates axonal degeneration in C. elegans neurons. Cell Reports 14(7): 1673–1683. *Corresponding authors. PubMed link. Media release.
Neumann B, and Hilliard MA (2014). Loss of MEC-17 leads to microtubule instability and axonal degeneration. Cell Reports 6(1): 93-103. PubMed link.
