Self-Activated Gene in Neural Circuits Explained

 

 

-Contributes to Research on Neuro Developmental

and Degenerative Disorders

 

-Published in Prestigious Scientific Journal Cell

 

 

College of Medicine Professor Hosung Jung and his team have uncovered the function of local mRNA translation in the formation and maintenance of neural circuits. The research could have important applications for the treatment of neural disorders. Joining Professor Jung were two of his graduate students, Jane Jung and Jiyeon Ohk, and Professor Christine Holt of University of Cambridge.

 

According to Professor Jung: “So far, the link between the formation of mutated RNA-regulating gene and degenerative disorders like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and neural developmental disorders like autism was not understood. This research enables us to view the cause of ALS pathology from a new perspective.”

 

Their findings were published June 30 in Cell under the title “Dynamic Axonal Translation in Developing and Mature Visual Circuits.”