NPAS2: A Protein Involved in Nervous System Regulation and Potential Drug Targets

Target Name: NPAS2

NCBI ID: G4862

NPAS2: A Protein Involved in Nervous System Regulation and Potential Drug Targets

NPAS2 (N-acetyl-p-valine) is a protein that is expressed in various tissues throughout the body. It is a key regulator of the nervous system and has been implicated in a number of neurological and psychiatric disorders. In recent years, researchers have been interested in studying the potential drug targets of NPAS2, as well as its potential as a biomarker for certain diseases.

NPAS2 is a member of the PASD4 family, which includes a number of proteins that are involved in the regulation of neurotransmitter release. PASD4 proteins are known for their ability to regulate the levels of neurotransmitters such as dopamine, serotonin, and GABA, which are involved in a variety of physiological processes in the brain.

One of the key functions of NPAS2 is its role in regulating the release of dopamine from the brain. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that is involved in motor control, emotion, and other functions, and its levels are regulated by a complex system of proteins, including NPAS2.

Research has shown that NPAS2 plays a key role in the regulation of dopamine release from the brain, and that its levels are involved in a number of neurological and psychiatric disorders. For example, studies have shown that individuals with certain genetic variations in the NPAS2 gene are at increased risk for developing schizophrenia, depression, and other psychiatric disorders.

In addition to its role in regulating dopamine release, NPAS2 is also involved in the regulation of other neurotransmitters, including serotonin and GABA. These proteins work together to help regulate the levels of neurotransmitters in the brain and to maintain the stability of the nervous system.

NPAS2 has also been shown to play a key role in the regulation of neural plasticity, which is the ability of the brain to change and adapt over time. Neural plasticity is involved in a variety of cognitive functions, including learning and memory, and is thought to be involved in the development of many psychiatric disorders.

Research has shown that NPAS2 is involved in the regulation of neural plasticity, and that its levels are involved in the development of certain psychiatric disorders. For example, studies have shown that individuals with certain genetic variations in the NPAS2 gene are at increased risk for developing anxiety and depression, which are disorders that are thought to be involved in neural plasticity.

In addition to its role in regulating neurotransmitter release and neural plasticity, NPAS2 has also been shown to play a key role in the regulation of inflammation in the brain. Inflammation is a natural response of the immune system to injury or infection, and it can contribute to the development of a variety of psychiatric disorders.

Research has shown that NPAS2 is involved in the regulation of inflammation in the brain, and that its levels are involved in the development of certain psychiatric disorders. For example, studies have shown that individuals with certain genetic variations in the NPAS2 gene are at increased risk for developing autoimmune disorders, which are disorders that involve the immune system attacking the body's own tissues.

In conclusion, NPAS2 is a protein that is involved in a number of important functions in the nervous system, including the regulation of neurotransmitter release, neural plasticity, and inflammation. As a result, it is an attractive target for drug research, with potential for the development of new treatments for a variety of psychiatric and neurological disorders. Further research is needed to fully understand the role of NPAS2 in the regulation of the nervous system and its potential as a biomarker for certain diseases.

Protein Name: Neuronal PAS Domain Protein 2

Functions: Transcriptional activator which forms a core component of the circadian clock. The circadian clock, an internal time-keeping system, regulates various physiological processes through the generation of approximately 24 hour circadian rhythms in gene expression, which are translated into rhythms in metabolism and behavior. It is derived from the Latin roots 'circa' (about) and 'diem' (day) and acts as an important regulator of a wide array of physiological functions including metabolism, sleep, body temperature, blood pressure, endocrine, immune, cardiovascular, and renal function. Consists of two major components: the central clock, residing in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the brain, and the peripheral clocks that are present in nearly every tissue and organ system. Both the central and peripheral clocks can be reset by environmental cues, also known as Zeitgebers (German for 'timegivers'). The predominant Zeitgeber for the central clock is light, which is sensed by retina and signals directly to the SCN. The central clock entrains the peripheral clocks through neuronal and hormonal signals, body temperature and feeding-related cues, aligning all clocks with the external light/dark cycle. Circadian rhythms allow an organism to achieve temporal homeostasis with its environment at the molecular level by regulating gene expression to create a peak of protein expression once every 24 hours to control when a particular physiological process is most active with respect to the solar day. Transcription and translation of core clock components (CLOCK, NPAS2, BMAL1, BMAL2, PER1, PER2, PER3, CRY1 and CRY2) plays a critical role in rhythm generation, whereas delays imposed by post-translational modifications (PTMs) are important for determining the period (tau) of the rhythms (tau refers to the period of a rhythm and is the length, in time, of one complete cycle). A diurnal rhythm is synchronized with the day/night cycle, while the ultradian and infradian rhythms have a period shorter and longer than 24 hours, respectively. Disruptions in the circadian rhythms contribute to the pathology of cardiovascular diseases, cancer, metabolic syndromes and aging. A transcription/translation feedback loop (TTFL) forms the core of the molecular circadian clock mechanism. Transcription factors, CLOCK or NPAS2 and BMAL1 or BMAL2, form the positive limb of the feedback loop, act in the form of a heterodimer and activate the transcription of core clock genes and clock-controlled genes (involved in key metabolic processes), harboring E-box elements (5'-CACGTG-3') within their promoters. The core clock genes: PER1/2/3 and CRY1/2 which are transcriptional repressors form the negative limb of the feedback loop and interact with the CLOCK|NPAS2-BMAL1|BMAL2 heterodimer inhibiting its activity and thereby negatively regulating their own expression. This heterodimer also activates nuclear receptors NR1D1/2 and RORA/B/G, which form a second feedback loop and which activate and repress BMAL1 transcription, respectively. The NPAS2-BMAL1 heterodimer positively regulates the expression of MAOA, F7 and LDHA and modulates the circadian rhythm of daytime contrast sensitivity by regulating the rhythmic expression of adenylate cyclase type 1 (ADCY1) in the retina. NPAS2 plays an important role in sleep homeostasis and in maintaining circadian behaviors in normal light/dark and feeding conditions and in the effective synchronization of feeding behavior with scheduled food availability. Regulates the gene transcription of key metabolic pathways in the liver and is involved in DNA damage response by regulating several cell cycle and DNA repair genes. Controls the circadian rhythm of NR0B2 expression by binding rhythmically to its promoter (By similarity). Mediates the diurnal variation in the expression of GABARA1 receptor in the brain and contributes to the regulation of anxiety-like behaviors and GABAergic neurotransmission in the ventral striatum (By similarity)

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