Pre and post metamorphosis spinal cord regeneration in frogs (B02)

• Subject Area: Biophysics ; Molecular Biology and Physiology of Neurons and Glial Cells
• Term: since 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 460333672

Frogs may regenerate CNS neurons before but not after metamorphosis. B02 will study mechanical, cellular, and molecular changes of spinal cord tissue in Xenopus laevis pre and post metamorphosis, and determine changes associated with the loss of regeneration. We will test our hypotheses that spinal cord tissue stiffens after injury in regenerative tadpoles but softens at later, non-regenerative (NR) stages, and that this mechanical difference is a key contributor to the opposed regenerative behaviour. We will then perturb tissue mechanics and gene expression of identified candidate genes in the NR spinal cord to test which changes are required to facilitate neuronal regeneration.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1540: Exploring Brain Mechanics (EBM): Understanding, engineering and exploiting mechanical properties and signals in central nervous system development, physiology and pathology
• Applicant Institution: Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
• Project Head: Professor Dr. Kristian Franze