Research projects

3．Anosmin-1 inhibits Growth Cone Collapse induced by RGMa/Neogenin signaling.

One of our projects is to investigate the molecular mechanisms of congenital disorders caused by neuronal impairment. During neuronal development, axons extend through various sets of extracellular environments to reach their targets. Understanding how axons grow along the proper paths to find their correct target is a major aim of developmental neurobiology. Anosmin-1 is an extracellular matrix glycoprotein, which is defective in the X-linked form of Kallmann syndrome (KS). KS is characterized by hypogonadism due to GnRH deficiency, and a defective sense of smell related to the underdevelopment of the olfactory bulbs.

Clinical spectrum in KAL1/Anosmin-1 mutation positive patients ranges widely from typical KS phenotype to apparently normal phenotype with fertility, including anosmina/ hyposmia only phenotype. Our contributions in these research fields are expected to lead to the development of regenerative therapies for neuronal disorder patients, which are currently the center of attention.