KLF Family Members Regulate Intrinsic Axon Regeneration Ability

Abstract

Containing Neuronal Exuberance In rats and mice, around the time of birth, neurons of the central nervous system switch from a growth mode and lose their ability to regenerate. Studying retinal ganglion cells of the rat, Moore et al. (p. 298 ; see the Perspective by Subang and Richardson ) identified a gene, Krüppel-like factor-4 ( KLF4 ), that seems to contribute to the switch. The KLF4 gene belongs to a family of related transcription factors that possess repressive or enhancing effects on axon growth. The combinatorial effect of this family of transcription factors before and after birth may fine-tune the ability of the neurons to extend axons.