Recombinant Human Neurocan protein

Supplementary information

This supplementary information is collated from multiple sources and compiled automatically.

Neurocan also known as CSPG3 is a chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan with a core protein mass around 245 kDa. It is expressed mostly in the central nervous system. Neurocan plays a mechanical role in modulation of cell adhesion and migration interacting with other extracellular matrix components like tenascin-C and hyaluronic acid. This interaction helps regulate how neurons and glial cells move and connect during development and after injury.

Biological function summary

Neurocan functions significantly in the neural extracellular matrix influencing neural plasticity and maintaining brain homeostasis. It is often found as part of a proteoglycan complex interacting with other matrix molecules. Its molecular structure allows it to bind and influence growth factors impacting neurogenesis and synaptic maintenance. The presence of neurocan is especially significant during periods of neural development and remodeling serving as a regulatory element in these processes.

Pathways

Neurocan plays a part in the regulation of nervous system development and neural repair mechanisms. The protein actively participates in the MAPK signaling pathway affecting cellular responses like proliferation and differentiation. Neurocan relates to proteins like fibronectin and integrins within these pathways contributing to structure and signaling that affect cellular environments and neuron network formations.

Neurocan holds associations with conditions like schizophrenia and neurotrauma. Altered expression or mutations within the neurocan gene can contribute to the disrupted neural connectivity seen in schizophrenia. Furthermore neurocan interacts with proteins such as aggrecan and versican in response to neural injuries forming glial scars that can inhibit proper neural repair and recovery processes. Understanding the role of neurocan in these diseases is essential in developing therapeutic strategies targeting neural plasticity and repair mechanisms.