title: Molecular basis for the nerve dependence of limb regeneration in an adult vertebrate.
abstract: The limb blastemal cells of an adult salamander regenerate the structures distal to the level of amputation, and the surface protein Prod 1 is a critical determinant of their proximodistal identity. The anterior gradient protein family member nAG is a secreted ligand for Prod 1 and a growth factor for cultured newt blastemal cells. nAG is sequentially expressed after amputation in the regenerating nerve and the wound epidermis-the key tissues of the stem cell niche-and its expression in both locations is abrogated by denervation. The local expression of nAG after electroporation is sufficient to rescue a denervated blastema and regenerate the distal structures. Our analysis brings together the positional identity of the blastema and the classical nerve dependence of limb regeneration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK.
authors.forename: Anoop
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: James W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Godwin
authors.forename: Phillip B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Gates
authors.forename: A Acely
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Garza-Garcia
authors.forename: Jeremy P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Brockes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018957:CD59 Antigens / Q000502:physiology*; D019556:COS Cells; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D003714:Denervation; D005121:Extremities / Q000294:innervation; D017261:Glycosylphosphatidylinositols / Q000502:physiology; D006133:Growth Substances; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D008024:Ligands; D051379:Mice; D009673:Notophthalmus viridescens; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000502:physiology*; D012038:Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D020798:Two-Hybrid System Techniques
chemical_list: D018957:CD59 Antigens; D017261:Glycosylphosphatidylinositols; D006133:Growth Substances; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008024:Ligands