What is a neurofilament?

Neurofilament is an element of a cytoskeleton that is specific to neurons. Neurophilaments are similar to cytoskeletal elements in other cells, but are formed by another set of proteins. They are particularly numerous in axons, ie long distribution of neurons, which generally transmit the nerves of impulses from the cellular body towards other cells. Several neurological disorders are directly associated with the overproduction of neurophilaments.

The cell keeps its shape and transports certain cellular ingredients with a cytoplasm using a cytoskeleton. Cytoskeletal elements hold organelles in place and even allow movement in some cells because they are a structural component of cilia and flagella. The cytoskeleton is built of microtubules about 23 nm, microfilaments approximately 6 nm and medium fibers about 10 nm. Medium fibers in the skin and hair are usually mainly made of keratin, while those that are part of the nuclear membrane structure in each cell is made of laminate. These three types are called neurofilament light (NF-L), neurofilant medium (NF-M) and neurofilament heavy (NF-H); Each neurofilament consists of NF-L and NF-M or NF-H. Other proteins in some neurofilaments, such as Nestin, are found in developmental neurons and Vimentin is found in some of the retina neurons and developing neurons.

both dendrites and axons strongly depend on the intermediate fibers to form their framework. The surface of the side side of the side from one end - C -Kon - every neurophil is polarized so that neurophilaments within the same dendritity or axon repel each other. This creates a space between them that acts as a passage of the nerve signal of the line and gives the axon added strength. The number of neurofilaments then determines the width of the signal path and hence the signal transmission speed.

Alzheimer's disease, Lou Gehrig's disease and giant axonal neuropathy are all disorders that include an excessive amount of neurophilaments. Axons in a neuroNO with excessive neurophilaments are crowded and cannot effectively transmit nerve signals. Another neurological disorder associated with the neurofilament dysfunction is the disease of Charcot-Marie-Zuba, which causes axons to deteriorate and nerve cells in some muscle tissue die. When studying this disease, scientists have recently discovered a mutation in a gene that encodes NF-L protein, which can also be involved in other neuropathies.