The exact function of Peripherin, or Neurofilament 4, is unknown however it has been suggested to play a role in axon formation and determining and maintaining the shape of nerve cells. Peripherin is a 470 amino acid Class-III neuronal intermediate filament protein. It has two isoforms produced by alternative splicing, one with a molecular weight of 53.651 KDa and one with a molecular weight of 53.779 KDa. It also undergoes nitration as post translational modification.
It has been suggested by a number of studies that peripherin may be involved in neurodegenerative diseases. An increase in peripherin expression has been linked to the initiation and growth of axons during development. A transgenic study in mice has shown that the over expression of the protein appears to be linked to motor neuron death. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disorder in which an up-regulation of peripherin mRNA has been found in. These findings require further research to find out the exact role of peripherin.
Novus Biologicals offers peripherin reagents for your research needs including:
