In 2005, Science magazine identified understanding organ regeneration as one of the top 25 unanswered questions in science. For over 400 years scientists have been studying the amazing regenerative capacity of the Axolotl or Mexican Salamander. These amazing creatures can regenerate most parts of their bodies with near perfect fidelity. However, in recent years the axolotl has lacked the rigorous genetic tools required to be an ideal model organism for the """"""""Omics"""""""" era. Recent advances in creating the genetic tools for the Axolotl have been pioneered by members of this GO application. Using our novel tools we can now create axolotl ortholog gene arrays to match those available for mice and humans. In addition, we can engineer transgenic axolotls to define gene functions in vivo. The goal of our GO grant is to validate the axolotl as an ideal genetic organism to compare a fully regenerative vertebrate (axolotl) to mammals. No current genetic model exhibits significant regenerative capacity as an adult. The goal of Regenerative Medicine is to heighten a patient's natural regenerative capacities. No stronger tool will exist for mapping relevant genetic pathways for neural regeneration then a validated axolotl model. In the two years of this GO proposal we will directly model many of the murine models for neural regeneration of the brain and spinal cord in the axolotl, create targeted neural specific axolotl gene arrays, and contrast the genetic responses of the axolotl to the mouse in order to define the pathways of regeneration. We have already generated axolotl neural stem cell lines (Gfp+) that are undergoing initial characterization - they will be compared to mouse NSC in this proposal. We will also create a series of transgenic axolotl models to match currently existing mouse models such as GFAP:Gfp and Nestin:GFP. All of these deliverables will be made fully available to the scientific community. The goal of this Grand Opportunity proposal is to create novel research infrastructure for Regenerative Medicine. We will create the genomic tools necessary to compare the amazing regenerative capacity of the Axolotl to established mouse models of human disease. Utilizing comparative genomics will allow the identification of the pathways required for vertebrate animal regeneration as an adult.

Public Health Relevance

The goal of this Grand Opportunity proposal is to create novel research infrastructure for Regenerative Medicine. We will create the genomic tools necessary to compare the amazing regenerative capacity of the Axolotl to established mouse models of human disease. Utilizing comparative genomics will allow the identification of the pathways required for vertebrate animal regeneration as an adult.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
High Impact Research and Research Infrastructure Programs (RC2)
Project #
5RC2NS069480-02
Application #
7938603
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZNS1-SRB-R (40))
Program Officer
Kleitman, Naomi
Project Start
2009-09-30
Project End
2013-05-31
Budget Start
2010-09-01
Budget End
2013-05-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2010
Total Cost
$1,024,170
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Florida
Department
Genetics
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
969663814
City
Gainesville
State
FL
Country
United States
Zip Code
32611
Maden, Malcolm; Avila, Daima; Roy, Molly et al. (2015) Tissue specific reactions to positional discontinuities in the regenerating axolotl limb. Regeneration (Oxf) 2:137-147
Athippozhy, Antony; Lehrberg, Jeffrey; Monaghan, James R et al. (2014) Characterization of in vitro transcriptional responses of dorsal root ganglia cultured in the presence and absence of blastema cells from regenerating salamander limbs. Regeneration (Oxf) 1:1-10
Lopez, David; Lin, Li; Monaghan, James R et al. (2014) Mapping hematopoiesis in a fully regenerative vertebrate: the axolotl. Blood 124:1232-41
Voss, Gareth J; Kump, D Kevin; Walker, John A et al. (2013) Variation in salamander tail regeneration is associated with genetic factors that determine tail morphology. PLoS One 8:e67274
Maden, Malcolm; Manwell, Laurie A; Ormerod, Brandi K (2013) Proliferation zones in the axolotl brain and regeneration of the telencephalon. Neural Dev 8:1
Monaghan, James R; Athippozhy, Antony; Seifert, Ashley W et al. (2012) Gene expression patterns specific to the regenerating limb of the Mexican axolotl. Biol Open 1:937-48
Monaghan, James R; Maden, Malcolm (2012) Visualization of retinoic acid signaling in transgenic axolotls during limb development and regeneration. Dev Biol 368:63-75
Seifert, Ashley W; Monaghan, James R; Voss, S Randal et al. (2012) Skin regeneration in adult axolotls: a blueprint for scar-free healing in vertebrates. PLoS One 7:e32875