EN
Axon degeneration is a critical feature in peripheral neuropathies and in neurodegenerative diseases. A valuable model for study of axon degeneration is that of Wallerian degeneration (WD) in which the distal portion of a transected axon undergoes a sequential process of degeneration. The discovery of the WldS mouse mutant which exhibits strong delay in WD due to expression of nuclear WldS protein has completely changed our understanding of WD which is now regarded as an active auto-destruction programme. Dissection of the cellular and molecular mechanisms of this novel death pathway is paramount for the development of new therapies. I will summarise my recent work which shed new light on the mechanisms of WD, chronic axon pathology and the mode of action of WldS [e.g. Beirowski et al. (2009) J Neurosci 29: 653–668, Beirowski et al. (2008) Eur J Neurosci 28: 1166–1179].