Press Release 06-112
Flatworms at Forefront of Regeneration Research

Scientists identify gene required for flatworms to maintain their stem cells

Researchers recently identified a key gene that maintains stem cells in planaria. Credit and Larger Version

August 7, 2006

Researchers have identified a gene in planaria--freshwater flatworms renowned for their regenerative abilities--that is key for maintenance of their stem cells. Because planarian stem cells share characteristics with those of humans, the work will aid scientists striving to understand how stem cells can be used to completely repair damaged tissues and organs.

Planaria have been studied for hundreds of years, but modern genomic techniques have given scientists new ways to delve into the molecular biology underlying planarian regeneration.Accordingly, Phillip Newmark and his colleagues at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) used a technique called "RNA interference" to stop a particular gene from producing its encoded protein.Without the protein, the planaria's stem cell population died out, and they lost the ability to regenerate.Now researchers will see if the gene plays a similar role in stem cells from other organisms.

All animals contain stem cells, which are unique because they have no specialized function but can mature into almost any cell type and do almost any job the body requires. In planaria, stem cells are responsible for the animal's ability to regenerate its entire body, even from small very small bits. Planaria are popular for introductory biology experiments because if one is chopped in half, two grow back.In fact, only 1/279^th of a planarian is needed to regenerate a complete worm.

Newmark is a CAREER awardee, a National Science Foundation program designed to support the early career-development of those researcher-educators who are deemed most likely to become the academic leaders of the 21^st century.

Newmark's work was published in the August issue of Developmental Cell and featured in an August 7 UIUC press release.

-NSF-

Media Contacts
Richard (Randy) Vines, NSF (703) 292-7963 rvines@nsf.gov
James Kloeppel, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 217-244-1073 kloeppel@uiuc.edu

Program Contacts
Judith E. Plesset, NSF (703) 292-8417 jplesset@nsf.gov

Principal Investigators
Phillip Newmark, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 217-244-4674 pnewmark@uiuc.edu

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency that supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering, with an annual budget of $6.06 billion. NSF funds reach all 50 states through grants to over 1,900 universities and institutions. Each year, NSF receives about 45,000 competitive requests for funding, and makes over 11,500 new funding awards. NSF also awards over $400 million in professional and service contracts yearly.

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