Glial fibrillary acidic protein

Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP) is a type of Intermediate filament protein that is encoded by the GFAP gene in humans. It is an integral component of the Cytoskeleton in Astrocytes, a type of Glial cell in the Central nervous system.

Structure

GFAP is a monomeric protein with a molecular weight of approximately 50 kDa. It is composed of a central alpha-helical rod domain flanked by non-alpha-helical head and tail domains. The rod domain is responsible for the assembly of GFAP into intermediate filaments, while the head and tail domains are thought to mediate interactions with other cellular components.

Function

GFAP is primarily expressed in astrocytes, where it plays a crucial role in maintaining the structural integrity of the cell and regulating many aspects of astrocyte function. It is involved in cell shape and motility, cell division, and the formation and maintenance of the Blood-brain barrier. In addition, GFAP has been implicated in the response to Neuroinflammation and injury, with its expression often upregulated in reactive astrocytes following damage to the CNS.

Clinical significance

Alterations in GFAP expression and function have been associated with a number of neurological disorders. Mutations in the GFAP gene can lead to Alexander disease, a rare and often fatal neurodegenerative disease characterized by the accumulation of abnormal GFAP aggregates, known as Rosenthal fibers, in astrocytes. Elevated levels of GFAP in the cerebrospinal fluid and blood have also been proposed as a biomarker for various conditions, including Traumatic brain injury, Stroke, and Alzheimer's disease.

See also

• Neuroglia
• Neurodegenerative disease
• Biomarker

References

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  Anaplastic astrocytoma stained for GFAP at very high magnification
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  Astrocyte