Protein deiminases: New players in the developmentally regulated loss of neural regenerative ability

► Spinal cord regenerative ability is lost with development. ► PAD3 (Ca++ dependent enzyme that deiminates proteins) is developmentally regulated. ► PAD3 increase following injury is greater in spinal cords that cannot regenerate. ► PAD inhibition reduces apoptosis and tissue damage in injured spinal cords. ► PAD/deimination are developmentally regulated modulators of secondary injury response.