Unlike humans, zebrafish have an incredible ability to regenerate damaged heart tissue. Scientists found that the gene ankrd1a activates as early as 15 hours after injury and consistently marks the area where regeneration takes place. While the gene isn’t essential for healing, it represents a sensitive stress marker and helps fine-tune the regeneration process. Understanding these mechanisms is an important step toward future therapies for the human heart.

ankrd1a is consistently upregulated in cardiomyocytes bordering the injury or scar area and affects their dedifferentiation during zebrafish heart regeneration

Muscle Cellular and Molecular Biology Group