GAP-43/Neuromodulin Mouse, Unlabeled, Clone: 31, BD

Description

Neuromodulin (GAP-43, B-50, F-1) is a neural-specific protein that represents about one percent of the total membrane protein in growth cones from developing rat brain. Growth cones are located at the distal tip of neuronal processes and are critical for transduction of extracellular signals into directed growth. Neuromodulin is attached to the membranes of the neuronal growth cones during development. In the adult, it is attached to the presynaptic membranes in discrete subsets of synapses. Neuromodulin can bind to calmodulin, as well as inhibit phosphatidylinositol phosphate kinase (PIP kinase) activity. It is also a prominent substrate of Protein Kinase C (PKC) and may mediate some of the effects of PKC on growth cone function. As may be expected, expression and phosphorylation of neuromodulin are closely associated with axonal outgrowth and repair. Phosphorylation of neuromodulin by PKC has been correlated with the persistence of long term potentiation and the translocation of PKC to synaptosomal membranes. This PKC-mediated phosphorylation does not appear to require neuromodulin membrane association. It has also been demonstrated that the GTP-binding protein, G[o], is a main component of growth cone membranes. The binding of GTP--S to G[o] is stimulated by neuromodulin and this activity resides within the amino-terminal region of the protein. This region of neuromodulin shares sequence homology with the cytoplasmic tails of G-linked transmembrane receptors, suggesting the presence of one binding site on G[o] for both neuromodulin and transmembrane receptors.

Western Blotting