Cancer-causing protein may heal damaged spinal cord and b...( than arresting it. The researchers want...),Health

than arresting it. The researchers wanted to use the power of Id proteins to stimulate growth of axons - the structures on neurons responsible for transmitting electrical signals in the brain and spinal cord. But to do that they needed to overcome the problem of the APC enzyme, which degrades the protein in normal cells. So they constructed a "super" Id protein that would resist degradation from the APC enzyme, allowing it to promote axonal growth.

Normally neurons cannot regenerate damaged axons because of the presence of myelin, a substance that surrounds the axons, but the degradation-resistant "super" Id protein was able to promote axon growth even in the presence of myelin.

Dr. Iavarone added that there is no chance that such a therapy would cause cancer in the brain or spinal cord. "Neurons have completely lost the ability to create new cells so there's no danger of creating a tumor. The only growth they're capable of is regeneration of their axons," he said.

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Contact: Craig LeMoult
cel2113@columbia.edu
212-920-9652
Columbia University Medical Center
28-Jun-2006

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