The researchers discovered that the Golgi apparatus—an organelle that processes proteins and sends them to their destinations—is important for this regeneration capability in its role as the microtubule organising centre of dormant NSCs. Microtubules are what provide structure to cells, transport substances within cells, enable cell division and growth and allow neuron signalling in fruit flies.
The scientists also identified two Golgi proteins, Arf1 and Sec71, as important for reactivation as they associate with the microtubule-binding protein Msps/XMAP215 to kickstart the growth of microtubules in NSCs, thus activating the dormant stem cells. A related study by the same research team also revealed the critical role of the microtubule-binding protein Patronin, in conjunction with Arf1 and Sec71, in reawakening dormant fruit fly NSCs.
“Taken together, our findings suggest a novel pathway involving Golgi proteins Arf1 and Sec71 and the microtubule regulators Patronin/CAMSAP and Msps that can switch quiescent NSCs into active proliferative states,” said first author Dr Mahekta Gujar, Research Fellow with Duke-NUS’ Neuroscience & Behavioural Disorders (NBD) Programme. “This sheds light on how dormant stem cells in the brain can be reactivated and may lead to new ways to stimulate NSC activation to treat injuries or neurodegenerative diseases.”