Collect. Czech. Chem. Commun. 2004, 69, 511-534
https://doi.org/10.1135/cccc20040511

Neurofilaments - the Intermediate Filaments of Neural Cells. A Review

Alice Šonská*, Tomáš Kučera and Gustav Entlicher

Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Albertov 2030, 128 43 Prague 2, Czech Republic

Abstract

Cytoskeleton is one of the basic structures of eukaryotic cells. It is a system of fibrillary or tubular proteins of three classes: microtubules, microfilaments and intermediate filaments. Neurofilaments, a member of the last class, occur in neural cells, where they are necessary for the cell to function properly. They are important in supporting and partly controlling the axon diameter and axonal transport. Neurofilaments are probably involved also in regulatory mechanisms, mainly through their extremely rich phosphorylation potential. This article introduces briefly the cytoskeleton in general and focuses on the structure and function of neurofilaments. A review with 189 references.

Keywords: Cytoskeleton; Intermediate filaments; Neurofilaments; Neurons; Proteins; Microtubules; Nervous system.

References: 189 live references.