Neurofascin is a
protein
Proteins are large biomolecules and macromolecules that comprise one or more long chains of amino acid residue (biochemistry), residues. Proteins perform a vast array of functions within organisms, including Enzyme catalysis, catalysing metab ...
that in humans is encoded by the ''NFASC''
gene
In biology, the word gene has two meanings. The Mendelian gene is a basic unit of heredity. The molecular gene is a sequence of nucleotides in DNA that is transcribed to produce a functional RNA. There are two types of molecular genes: protei ...
.
Function
Neurofascin is an
L1 family
The L1 family is a family of cell adhesion molecules that includes four different L1-like proteins. They are members of the immunoglobulin superfamily ( IgSF CAM). The members of the L1-family in humans are called L1 or L1cam, CHL1 (close homo ...
immunoglobulin
cell adhesion molecule
Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) are a subset of cell surface proteins that are involved in the binding of cells with other cells or with the extracellular matrix (ECM), in a process called cell adhesion. In essence, CAMs help cells stick to each ...
(see
L1CAM) involved in
axon
An axon (from Greek ἄξων ''áxōn'', axis) or nerve fiber (or nerve fibre: see American and British English spelling differences#-re, -er, spelling differences) is a long, slender cellular extensions, projection of a nerve cell, or neuron, ...
subcellular targeting and
synapse
In the nervous system, a synapse is a structure that allows a neuron (or nerve cell) to pass an electrical or chemical signal to another neuron or a target effector cell. Synapses can be classified as either chemical or electrical, depending o ...
formation during
neural development
The development of the nervous system, or neural development (neurodevelopment), refers to the processes that generate, shape, and reshape the nervous system of animals, from the earliest stages of embryonic development to adulthood. The field ...
.
Clinical importance
A homozygous mutation causing loss of Nfasc155 causes severe congenital hypotonia, contractures of fingers and toes and no reaction to touch or pain.
References
Further reading
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Human proteins
{{gene-1-stub