A so-called 'cannibal' gene gobbles up excess cells when the brain is forming and could pave the way for new treatment for brain disease and even tumours, Italian researchers say.
It is the first time such autophagy or self-cannibalisation of cells has been found in the brain.
The gene, dubbed Ambra 1, makes sure stem cells stop proliferating in embryos, Italian and German researchers led by Rome Tor Vergata University's Francesco Cecconi found.
"Ambra 1 is a sort of guardian that comes into play when the brain is very young but it also looks like it could provide a key to the development of neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's, Huntington's and Parkinson's," said Rome researcher Silvia Di Bartolomeo.
The gene, which was identified at the Max Planck Institute in Germany, may also play a role in a range of tumours, she added.
"So far we have focused our attention on the nervous system but Ambra 1 is also expressed in many other organs," Di Bartolomeo pointed out.
The discovery has been published in the latest edition of the international scientific journal Nature.
