A functional genomics screen in planarians reveals regulators of whole-brain regeneration.

ABSTRACT: Planarians regenerate all body parts after injury, including the central nervous system (CNS). We capitalized on this distinctive trait and completed a gene expression-guided functional screen to identify factors that regulate diverse aspects of neural regeneration in Schmidtea mediterranea. Our screen revealed molecules that influence neural cell fates, support the formation of a major connective hub, and promote reestablishment of chemosensory behavior. We also identified genes that encode signaling molecules with roles in head regeneration, including some that are produced in a previously uncharacterized parenchymal population of cells. Finally, we explored genes downregulated during planarian regeneration and characterized, for the first time, glial cells in the planarian CNS th

SUBMITTER: Roberts-Galbraith RH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5055394 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature