New Finding about Protein Reelin
According to routine assumption, taking away a protein would lead to the same consequence as taking the protein’s receptors that it acts on. But recently a study result did not support the assumption.
It is identified that glycoprotein Reelin is crucial to the development of healthy neural networks. During the process, Reelin helps neurons find connection site to thalamus in brain at the early stage before transmitting to cerebral cortex for further development.
In the study, scientists used mice model without two Reelin receptors. They expected to see the abnormality of neurons that become lost and unable to find their targets, which is what happens in Reelin-deficient mice. Surprisingly instead, the neurons were able to locate their targets, but those targets had wandered off. Although most neurons look the same to people without advanced training in neuroscience, many different types are intermixed in distinct regions with strict borders. How these borders are formed, however, is still an open question.
Through the finding, scientists began to assume that they might imitate the mechanism that creates clear boundaries for larger regions of functionally similar cells or proteins. The finding could prove useful for the development of therapies and diagnostics to combat brain disease.
About Reelin
This gene encodes a large secreted extracellular matrix protein thought to control cell-cell interactions critical for; cell positioning and neuronal migration during brain development. This protein may be involved in schizophrenia, autism, bipolar disorder, major depression and in migration defects associated with temporal lobe epilepsy. Mutations of this gene are associated with autosomal recessive lissencephaly with cerebellar hypoplasia. Two transcript variants, encoding distinct isoforms have been identified for this gene. Other transcript variants have been described but their; full length nature has not been determined. For Reelin-related product information, such as anti-Reelin antibodies and Reelin cDNA clone, please visit us at /symbolsearch_RELN.htm .
Article Link: New Finding about Protein Reelin
Tags: Reelin, Neuroscience, Antibodies