skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Neural regeneration protein is a novel chemoattractive and neuronal survival-promoting factor

Journal Article · · Experimental Cell Research
 [1];  [2];  [2];  [1];  [2];  [2];  [3];  [2];  [1]
  1. Neuren Pharmaceuticals Ltd., PO Box 9923, Newmarket, Auckland 1031 (New Zealand)
  2. Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, 2-6 Park Avenue, Grafton, Auckland (New Zealand)
  3. Leibnitz Institute for Neurobiology, Brenneckestrasse 6, 39118 Magdeburg (Germany)

Neurogenesis and neuronal migration are the prerequisites for the development of the central nervous system. We have identified a novel rodent gene encoding for a neural regeneration protein (NRP) with an activity spectrum similar to the chemokine stromal-derived factor (SDF)-1, but with much greater potency. The Nrp gene is encoded as a forward frameshift to the hypothetical alkylated DNA repair protein AlkB. The predicted protein sequence of NRP contains domains with homology to survival-promoting peptide (SPP) and the trefoil protein TFF-1. The Nrp gene is first expressed in neural stem cells and expression continues in glial lineages. Recombinant NRP and NRP-derived peptides possess biological activities including induction of neural migration and proliferation, promotion of neuronal survival, enhancement of neurite outgrowth and promotion of neuronal differentiation from neural stem cells. NRP exerts its effect on neuronal survival by phosphorylation of the ERK1/2 and Akt kinases, whereas NRP stimulation of neural migration depends solely on p44/42 MAP kinase activity. Taken together, the expression profile of Nrp, the existence in its predicted protein structure of domains with similarities to known neuroprotective and migration-inducing factors and the high potency of NRP-derived synthetic peptides acting in femtomolar concentrations suggest it to be a novel gene of relevance in cellular and developmental neurobiology.

OSTI ID:
20858025
Journal Information:
Experimental Cell Research, Vol. 312, Issue 16; Other Information: DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2006.06.020; PII: S0014-4827(06)00218-7; Copyright (c) 2006 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0014-4827
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English