Proteolytic events are relevant cellular responses during nervous system regeneration of the starfish Marthasterias glacialis

The molecular pathways that trigger the amazing intrinsic regenerative ability of echinoderm nervous system are still unknown. In order to approach this subject, a 2D-DIGE proteomic strategy was used for the first time, to screen the proteome changes during in vivo neuronal regeneration, using starfish (Asteroidea, Echinodermata) as a model. During radial nerve cord regeneration a total of 528 proteins showed significant variations in both soluble and membrane proteins enriched fractions. Unexpectedly, most of the identified proteins present a molecular mass either higher or lower than expected. Such results suggest a functional modulation through protein post-translational modifications, such as ubiquitin conjugation and targeting proteins for proteasomal degradation. Among these are proteins involved in cytoskeleton and microtubule regulators, axon guidance molecules and growth cone modulators, protein de novo synthesis machinery, RNA binding and transport, transcription factors, kinases, lipid signaling effectors and proteins with neuroprotective functions. In summary, the impact of proteolysis during regeneration events is here shown, impelling urgent studies to detail the importance that this post-transcriptional event has during nervous system regeneration.99