Researchers say they have identified a gene that controls the ability of the heart to repair itself after a heart attack or other injury. The announcement came from scientists at the University of Texas. They had shown earlier that a newborn mammal could regenerate heart cells and repair injuries through cell division. But they found the heart lost that ability as the animal developed.

The scientists found that a gene called Meis1 became very active in heart cells soon after birth, when the heart muscles stop dividing. They soon began wondering about Meis1 and its importance.

The research team removed Meis1 from the heart of newborn mice. They then showed that the period for regenerating cells was lengthened. The researchers were also able to re-activate this regenerative process in adult mouse hearts by removing the gene.

Hesham Sadek led the University of Texas team. He says Meis1 controls several genes that normally stop cell division. He compared this to an on-off switch for making adult heart cells divide.

The researchers say the finding could provide a new way to study heart regeneration. In Dr. Sadek’s words, “it could introduce a new era in treatment for heart failure.” Many researchers currently are studying the possible use of stem cells to replace damaged heart cells.

A report on the University of Texas study was published in the journal Nature.

Eppendorf and the journal Science have begun accepting nominations for the 2013 Eppendorf & Science Prize for Neurobiology. The prize is presented each year for research in neurobiology.