A recent study unveils the significant role of the protein Contactin-4 (CNTN4) in neuron development, impacting both neurodevelopmental disorders and Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers discovered that CNTN4, associated with autism, interacts with the Alzheimer-related protein APP, affecting neuron growth in the brain’s cortex.
This finding underscores a crucial co-dependent relationship vital for healthy brain development and offers insights into the overlap between developmental and neurodegenerative diseases.
Key Facts:
CNTN4 is crucial for neuron development and linked to autism and Alzheimer’s.
Interaction between CNTN4 and APP is essential for healthy brain function.
Knocking out CNTN4 alters neuron growth in the brain’s cortex.
Source: University of Exeter
The study, led by the University of Exeter and published in Royal Society Open Biology, delves into the functional roles of CNTN4 within the brain, particularly its interactions with proteins involved in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s.
Researchers found that mice with the CNTN4 gene knocked out in the cortex showed altered neuron development, indicating the protein’s significance in shaping neurons.
Moreover, the study demonstrated the interaction between CNTN4 and APP in human cells, revealing a co-dependent relationship crucial for brain development and neuron growth regulation.
Lead author Dr. Rosemary Bamford notes the intersection of developmental and neurodegenerative pathways, offering insights into the broader implications of these proteins.
Senior author Dr. Asami Oguro-Ando emphasizes the need to explore the molecular mechanisms underlying the CNTN4-APP interaction and its implications for disorders like Alzheimer’s and Autism Spectrum Disorder.
About this Autism and Alzheimer’s disease research:
The study highlights CNTN4’s role in cortical development and its interaction with APP, crucial for understanding Alzheimer’s disease pathology.