Scientists link protein to the insulation of the nervous system's wiring
Thursday, January 27, 2011 - 11:20
in Physics & Chemistry
Researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have pinpointed a crucial function for a key player in the development of the nervous system. They found that this player a protein called Erk is necessary for nerve fibers to be wrapped with an insulating substance called myelin, which allows messages to be sent from the brain to the peripheral limbs and back again.