Newt protein may offer clues for human regeneration

Scientists have discovered a protein in newts that allows them to regrow severed limbs. Previous to this finding, it was known that salamanders and newts have the ability to renew damaged body parts, but it was unclear how they do it. The identified protein, nAG, is present in nerve and skin cells and plays a “role in producing a clump of immature cells, known as a blastema, which regrows the missing part.” Scientists were able to coax regeneration even when a nerve was severed below the stump tip by artificially making the cells produce the nAG protein. This ability of newts means they are capable of manipulating their bodies by turning cells into undifferentiated stem cells and then back into mature tissue again.

I found this article interesting since this finding may offer clues for limb regeneration in humans. Understanding how newts regrow severed limbs does not necessarily mean though, that the same process would allow humans to regrow lost arms or legs.

http://www.reuters.com/articlePrint?articleId=USL2950765720071101