 <p class="lead" id="first">Researchers at The University of Queensland have identified a molecule essential for regulating the repair of injured nerves, which could help people recover from nerve damage.</p><p>The finding was made using the nematode worm <em>C. elegans </em>which has long been studied by researchers for its ability to self-repair nerve cells.</p><p>Professor Massimo Hilliard and his team at UQ's Queensland Brain Institute (QBI) have identified that the enzyme ADM-4 is an essential protein regulating the molecular glue, or fusogen, needed for nerve repair.</p><p>"We have shown that animals lacking ADM-4 cannot repair their nerves by fusion," Professor Hilliard said.</p><p>"ADM-4 must function within the injured neuron to stabilise the fusogen EFF-1 and allow the membranes of the separated nerves to merge.</p><p>"An exciting part of this discovery is that ADM-4 is similar to a mammalian gene, opening up the possibility that one day we may harness this process in humans."</p><p>Study first author, Dr Xue Yan Ho, said the nematode provided a great platform for these studies.</p><p>"Our goal is to uncover the molecules and understand their role in nerve repair in <em>C. elegans," </em>Dr Ho said.</p><p>"If we can understand how to control this process, we can apply this knowledge to other animal models.</p><p>"The hope is that one day, we can induce the same mechanical process in people who have had a nerve injury.</p><p>"We are still a long way from this goal, but the discovery of ADM-4's role is an important step forward."</p><p>Nerve cells communicate using long, cable-like structures called axons.</p><p>As they are long and thin, they are very susceptible to breaking, which stops nerve cells from communicating and leads to issues like paralysis.</p><p>A few years ago, Professor Hilliard and his team discovered that <em>C. elegans</em> could spontaneously re-join two separated axon fragments, a process called axonal fusion.</p><p>QBI's Associate Professor Victor Anggono helped the team define the molecular mechanisms of this process.</p><p>"Using neurosurgery to stitch together damaged nerves has limited success," A/Professor Anggono said.</p><p>"A different approach using gene technology to directly provide the molecular glue, or activate the fusogen regulator ADM-4, or using pharmacology to activate these components, may facilitate complete regeneration."</p>