GFAP-isoforms in the nervous system: Understanding the need for diversity

Curr Opin Cell Biol. 2024 Feb 23;87:102340. doi: 10.1016/j.ceb.2024.102340. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTGlial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) is an intermediate filament (IF) protein expressed in specific types of glial cells in the nervous system. The expression of GFAP is highly regulated during brain development and in neurological diseases. The presence of distinct GFAP-isoforms in various cell types, developmental stages, and diseases indicates that GFAP (post-)transcriptional regulation has a role in glial cell physiology and pathology. GFAP-isoforms differ in sub-cellular localisation, IF-network assembly properties, and IF-dynamics which results in distinct molecular interactions and mechanical properties of the IF-network. Therefore, GFAP (post-)transcriptional regulation is likely a mechanism by which radial glia, astrocytes, and glioma cells can modulate cellular function.PMID:38401182 | DOI:10.1016/j.ceb.2024.102340
Source: Current Opinion in Cell Biology - Category: Cytology Authors: Source Type: research