Project Overview

In order to provide a cell culture system to study myelination, one idea would be to try to simulate the surface of an axon by coating nanofilaments of some type with the extracellular portion of the Type III neuregulin material. If this were a successful substrate for growth of Schwann cells, a number of growth parameters could be assayed, including proliferation, activation of signaling pathways, induction of major myelin proteins, and perhaps even myelination. Even if myelination is not achieved, this could also be used as a substrate to identify missing factors that are important in this process. Finally, it should be noted that an effective culture system of this type could be used (if it can be miniaturized) to develop assays for small molecule screens for drugs that stimulate myelination (or induction of major myelin proteins), which could have great therapeutic potential for a variety of nervous system disorders. It would be expected that a number of parameters would have to be worked out: a) optimal diameter of nanofilaments as normally axons>1 micron diameter are myelinated, b) optimal coating and density of neuregulin peptides, c) optimal culture conditions in such a system, etc. - Dr. John Svaren

Team Picture

Contact Information

Team Members

• Brad Lindevig - Co-Team Leader
• Courtney Krueger - Co-Team Leader
• David Schreier - Communicator
• Nicholas Shiley - BSAC
• Jacob Meyer - BWIG

Advisor and Client

• Prof. John Puccinelli - Advisor
• Dr. John Svaren - Client

Related Projects

• Spring 2012: 3D Scaffold for Schwann Cell Culture and Myelination
• Fall 2011: 3-dimensional culture system for Schwann cells