New signaling mechanisms in myelination

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The development and function of the tissues in our body depend on the continued interaction between the cells that make up the tissue. Cells are continuously talking to each other through molecules they send out or display on their surface. Neighbouring cells need to be able to sense and respond to these signals, so they have receptors for them. The signals and receptors come in many different varieties, and understanding their function is key to understanding animal and plant development. In this work we will examine the role of a signal and receptor molecule that are important for the development and function of the insulating layer (called the myelin sheath) that surrounds many of the nerve cells. These nerves trigger our senses and steer our muscles and the myelin sheath is important for the fast relay of information along our nerves. Highly similar signalling and receptor molecules exist in other parts of the brain where they fulfil other important functions, but it is not known if they all act in a similar way. We aim to elucidate how these signal:receptor molecules work in myelin formation and compare it with what we know about related proteins in other parts of the brain. This will give us deeper insight into the way these molecules work and how disturbances of these signals lead to developmental defects and neurological disease.