Nervous System Development Detailed

[Guest guest]

Nervous System Development Detailed

THURSDAY, Jan. 27 (HealthDayNews) -- Research in mice and fruit flies offers the

first evidence that a group of proteins called phosphatases play an important

role in nervous system development, says a study in the Jan. 28 issue of

Science.

Phosphatases are necessary for maintenance of neural stem cells and for

silencing expression of neuronal genes in non-nervous system tissues.

This study found that small carboxyl-terminal domain phosphatases (SCPs) are

expressed in nearly all body tissues. In their " on " position, these proteins

silence expression of neuronal genes in areas of the body, such as the heart and

liver, where they aren't needed. When in the " off " position in the nervous

system, these proteins allow neuronal stem cells to develop into specialized

neurons, the researchers said.

The team of researchers from the University of California, San Diego and the

Salk Institute concluded that SCPs are part of the previously identified master

gene complex REST/NRSF, which controls neuronal genes.

" These findings suggest a way to expand the pool of neuronal stem cells, which

could lead to new therapeutic strategies for neurological disorders, " study

senior author Dr. Gordon Gill, a UCSD professor of medicine, said in a prepared

statement.

-- Preidt

SOURCE: University of California, San Diego, news release, Jan. 27, 2005