Nucleic Acid Aptamer Selection Against p75NTR for uses in the Stimulation of Axonal Regeneration in Central Nervous System Injuries

Nucleic Acid Aptamer Selection Against p75NTR for uses in the Stimulation of Axonal Regeneration in Central Nervous System Injuries
Jeffrey Li

Many injuries occur on a day to day basis, ranging from small papercuts and bruises to broken bones or worse. While most of these injuries heal on their own and require minimal attention, a non-mechanical blow to the central nervous system (CNS) in the form of something such as a neck injury which desensitizes limbs will not heal. The damage to the spine and the inability to regenerate the damaged cells is mostly caused by the inhibitory properties of myelin and glial scar. The three main myelin inhibitors, Nogo-66, MAG, and Omgp, all bind with relatively similar affinities to Nogo-66 Receptor (NGR), which in turn binds to the common neurotrophin receptor p75NTR known to cause  programmed cell death (Bredesen et al., 1998). The blockage of p75NTR could substantially block the inhibiting effects of this receptor complex. Therefore an aptamer selected against p75NTR could help promote neuron regeneration after traumatic injuries. 
Figure 1: Primary Specific Aim in Schematic Diagram of Steps leading to Inhibition of Axonal Regeneration (Filbin, Marie 2003): A successful aptamer selected against p75NTR can prevent a cascade effect of inhibition of axonal growth.


Specific Aim 1: The primary specific aim of this project is an RNA aptamer selection against p75NTR for therapeutic treatment.
P75NTR is a primary component in a series of chain events that lead to inhibition of axonal growth. If a successful aptamer is selected, the chance of an inhibitory response being created down the chain is greatly diminished, which can aid in the treatment of CNS damage. 
Vendor: Sino Biological Inc.
Product catalog number: 50971-M08H
Vendor website: http://www.sinobiological.com/NGFR-P75-Protein-g-6940.html
Vendor telephone number: 86-400-890-9989
Cost per unit: $290 per 100ug
Cost per round: $29 per round (400 pmol)

References:
 Filbin, Marie. (2003) “Myelin-associated inhibitors of axonal regeneration in the adult mammalian CNS” Nature Reviews Neuroscience 4, 703-713. 
Bredesen,  D.E., Ye, X., Tasinato, A., Sperandio, S., Wang, J.J., Assa-Mun,t N., Rabizadeh, S. (1998). “p75NTR and the concept of cellular dependence: seeing how the other half die” Cell Death and Differentiation 5(5):365-371. 

Target Proposal
First Progress Report
Second Progress Report
Final Progress Report

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