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Neuroscience

Synapsin I, a pre-synaptic marker

Synapsin-I, also called Synapsin 1/Syn1, is an ~80 kDa protein (predicted mol. wt. 74.1 kDa) which belongs to the Synapsin family (Synapsin I, Synapsin II, Synapsin III). Synapsins are the evolutionarily conserved phospho-proteins which are associated with the cytosolic side of the synaptic vesicles. They tether the vesicles to the actin cytoskeleton, thus forming a reserve pool.

How DOPA Decarboxylase Affects Neurotransmitter Synthesis

DOPA decarboxylase (DDC) is responsible for catalyzing the conversion of aromatic amino acids into their corresponding amines during the synthesis of several important neurotransmitters. Specifically, DDC catalyzes the decarboxylation of L-DOPA to dopamine, L5-HTP to serotonin, L-histidine to histamine, phenylalanine to phenethylamine, L-tyrosine to tyramine, and tryptophan to tryptamine.

Choline Acetyltransferase (ChAT) – a useful Immunohistochemical marker for morphological studies of neurons

Choline Acetyltransferase (ChAT) is the enzyme that is responsible for biosynthesis of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. The majority of acetylcholine is synthesized locally at nerve terminals where ChAT catalyzes the transfer of an acetyl group from acetyl coenzyme A to choline, a process that takes place in a single step.

Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP), The Most Popular Astrocyte Marker

GFAP, a class-III intermediate filament, is a 50kDa protein which is found in the mature and developing astrocytes in the CNS, non-myelinating Schwann cells in the PNS, enteric glial cells (enteric nervous system/ENS), ependymal cells, and radial glia of the developing brain.

Tyrosine hydroxylase - a marker for dopaminergic neurons in the central nervous system

Tyrosine hydroxylase is a member of the aromatic amino acid hydroxylase (AAAH) family.  It is expressed throughout the central nervous system (CNS) and catalyzes the conversion of tyrosine to L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA), which can be, through a series of downstream enzymatic reactions, processed into the neurotransmitter and signaling molecule dopamine. Dopamine can then be further altered to produce norepinephrine or epinephrine.

Tubulin alpha 4A - A ubiquitous tubulin isoform linked to ALS and infertility

Microtubules are a main component of the cytoskeleton and play essential roles in a variety of cellular processes. These highly dynamic tubular structures are assembled from alpha- and beta-tubulin dimers to form a complex structural network of microtubules throughout the cytoplasm. This network provides a substrate for intracellular trafficking of vesicles, organelles, and other cargo and can also facilitate cell migration. Additionally, during cell division, microtubules make up the mitotic spindle and provide the mechanical force for chromosome segregation.

Parkin - Role in Mitochondrial Quality Control and Parkinson's Disease

Parkin/PARK2 is a cytosolic enzyme which gets recruited to cellular mitochondria damaged through depolarization, ROS or unfolded proteins accumulation, and exert protective effects by inducing mitophagy (mitochondrial autophagy). Parkin induces mitophagy by promoting mitofission (mitochondrial division) and by ubiquitinating mitochondrial proteins to facilitate their recognition/recruitment to the autophagosomal surface.

alpha-Synuclein - a small protein with big implications in neurodegeneration

alpha-Synuclein is a 14 kDa protein encoded by the SNCA gene that is abundantly expressed in neurons. Within the neuron, alpha-Synuclein is densely localized on presynaptic terminals, indicating a potential role in synaptic transmission. Nitration at specific tyrosine residues promotes misfolding and aggregation of alpha-Synuclein. These aggregates are a major component of Lewy bodies, characteristic lesions of neurodegenerative disorders known as synucleinopathies.

PKR - Mediating cellular stress responses through multiple signaling pathways

Protein kinase R (PKR) is an intracellular stress-sensing protein that is able to detect and respond to viral infections. While PKR is able to sense and respond to a variety of signals, dsRNA is a well-characterized ligand. dsRNA produced during viral replication binds to PKR and induces a conformational change, dimerization, and exposure of the catalytic autophosphorylation site (1). Once in this active form PKR is able to phosphorylate substrates to regulate cell growth and stress responses.

Tyrosine Hydroxylase - rate-limiting enzyme in catecholamine synthesis

Catecholamines are tyrosine-derived hormones that are produced in the adrenal gland. They include epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine and are used as neurotransmitters by the central and peripheral nervous system. The rate limiting enzyme in catecholamine synthesis is Tyrosine Hydroxylase. Tyrosine Hydroxylase is responsible for the conversion of tyrosine to L-DOPA, which is readily converted into dopamine. Epinephrine and Norepinephrine are then further derived from dopamine.

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