NEFM
NEFM (neurofilament medium chain, also known as NFM, NF-M and NEF3) is the medium subunit of neuronal neurofilaments, type IV intermediate filaments that help maintain neuronal calibre. It is commonly used as a biomarker of neuronal damage. Browse Assay Genie's current range of NEFM research reagents below, or read on for the biology behind the target.
NEFM encodes the medium chain of the neurofilament, one of three subunits that usually assemble together: the light chain (NEFL), the medium chain (NEFM) and the heavy chain (NEFH). Neurofilaments are type IV intermediate filament heteropolymers that make up the axoskeleton and functionally maintain neuronal calibre. They may also play a role in intracellular transport to axons and dendrites. NEFM may additionally cooperate with the neuronal intermediate filament proteins PRPH and INA to form neuronal filamentous networks.
The NEFM protein belongs to the intermediate filament family and is classed by HGNC in the type IV intermediate filaments gene group. In cells it is found in the cytoskeleton, in axonal projections and in the perikaryon, the neuronal cell body. The NEFM gene undergoes alternative splicing, which results in multiple transcript variants encoding distinct isoforms. Mouse and rat orthologs are both named Nefm.
The gene has appeared in the literature under several names, including neurofilament, medium polypeptide 150kDa, as well as the aliases NFM, NF-M and NEF3. Because neurofilament proteins are a structural component of neurons, NEFM is commonly used as a biomarker of neuronal damage, which makes it a frequent subject in studies of neuronal integrity and axonal injury.
NEFM is commonly used as a biomarker of neuronal damage, supporting studies that assess neuronal integrity.
As a component of the axoskeleton, NEFM is relevant to how neurofilaments are organised within axons.
Neurofilaments containing NEFM functionally maintain neuronal calibre, making the protein a focus for work on axon structure.
Neurofilaments may play a role in transport to axons and dendrites, a question in which NEFM is of interest.
NEFM is the medium subunit of neurofilaments, which usually also contain NEFL and NEFH. These type IV intermediate filaments form the axoskeleton and maintain neuronal calibre. They may also contribute to intracellular transport to axons and dendrites.
NEFM is also called NFM, NF-M and NEF3, and was previously named neurofilament, medium polypeptide 150kDa. Alternative splicing of the NEFM gene gives multiple transcript variants that encode distinct isoforms. Check the datasheet of any product for its validated reactivity.
Mouse and rat both carry a Nefm ortholog. The NEFM protein is commonly used as a biomarker of neuronal damage, so it is widely studied in neuroscience, where neurofilament proteins serve as indicators of neuronal and axonal integrity.
Other neurofilament subunits and neuronal intermediate filament proteins that associate with NEFM.
Gene and protein annotations from HGNC, NCBI Gene and UniProt P07197; product specifications from Assay Genie datasheets.