During the past year, a major advance in the study of axon regeneration was
the molecular cloning of Nogo. The expression of Nogo protein by CNS myeli
n may be a major factor in the failure of CNS axon regeneration. The effect
of disrupting Nogo-dependent axon inhibition can now be studied conclusive
ly. In related work, immunization with a Nogo-containing CNS myelin prepara
tion was shown to promote regeneration and dramatic functional recovery aft
er spinal cord trauma.