NRN1
NRN1 (neuritin 1, also known as NRN) encodes neuritin, a member of the neuritin family that promotes neurite outgrowth and the branching of neuritic processes. It is expressed in differentiating neurons and in neuronal structures associated with plasticity. Browse Assay Genie's current range of NRN1 research reagents below, or read on for the biology behind the target.
Neuritin, the protein product of the NRN1 gene, promotes neurite outgrowth and especially the branching of neuritic processes in primary hippocampal and cortical cells. By encouraging neurite outgrowth and arborisation, it is thought to play a role in promoting neuritogenesis, the process by which developing neurons extend and elaborate their processes.
The NRN1 gene belongs to the neuritin family. According to the NCBI Gene summary, it is expressed in postmitotic, differentiating neurons of the developing nervous system and in neuronal structures associated with plasticity in the adult. Its expression can be induced by neural activity and by neurotrophins, linking the protein to activity-dependent changes in neuronal structure. The encoded protein contains a consensus cleavage signal found in glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored proteins, and UniProt records its location as the cell membrane and the synapse. Alternative splicing of the gene results in multiple transcript variants.
The gene is also known by the alias NRN, and orthologues are present in mouse and rat, both named Nrn1. In terms of disease relevance, overexpression of the encoded protein may be associated with astrocytoma progression. Researchers studying NRN1 therefore work in areas that span neuronal development, synaptic plasticity and neuro-oncology, using the NRN1 gene and neuritin protein as readouts of neurotrophin and activity-dependent signalling.
NRN1 is expressed in postmitotic, differentiating neurons of the developing nervous system and promotes neurite outgrowth and arborisation.
Neuritin is found in neuronal structures associated with plasticity in the adult, and its expression is induced by neural activity.
NRN1 expression can be induced by neurotrophins, making it a useful readout when studying neurotrophin-dependent responses in neurons.
Overexpression of the NRN1-encoded protein may be associated with astrocytoma progression, giving the target relevance in neuro-oncology.
NRN1 encodes neuritin, which promotes neurite outgrowth and especially the branching of neuritic processes in primary hippocampal and cortical cells. This suggests a role in neuritogenesis. Its expression is induced by neural activity and neurotrophins, and it is found at the cell membrane and synapse.
The HGNC name is neuritin 1, the UniProt protein name is neuritin, and NRN is a listed alias. The protein carries a consensus cleavage signal typical of GPI-anchored proteins, and alternative splicing of the gene gives rise to multiple transcript variants.
Orthologues exist in mouse and rat, both called Nrn1. NCBI notes that overexpression of the encoded protein may be associated with astrocytoma progression. Check the datasheet of any product for its validated reactivity.
Neurotrophins, neuronal growth markers and synaptic plasticity targets that sit alongside NRN1 in neuronal development research.
Gene and protein annotations from HGNC, NCBI Gene and UniProt Q9NPD7; product specifications from Assay Genie datasheets.