Neurofilament Heavy Chain (Nf H) is an important component in the neurobiology of neurodegenerative diseases. This page provides detailed information about its structure, function, and role in disease processes.
Neurofilament Heavy Chain (NF-H) is a neuronal intermediate filament protein encoded by the NEFH gene. It is the largest neurofilament subunit (~200 kDa) and plays essential roles in maintaining axonal caliber, supporting fast axonal transport, and ensuring proper nerve conduction velocity. NF-H is a major component of large myelinated axons and is particularly abundant in motor neurons.
| Neurofilament Heavy Chain (NF-H) | |
|---|---|
| Protein Name | Neurofilament Heavy Chain |
| Gene | NEFH |
| UniProt | P06744 |
| Molecular Weight | ~200 kDa (1,026 amino acids) |
| Subcellular Localization | Axons (cytoskeletal element), neuronal cell body, dendrites |
| Protein Family | Intermediate filament family (Type IV) |
| PDB Structure | 2Y0A, 4GTX |
NF-H has a characteristic intermediate filament structure:
Lee MK, et al. "Neurofilament assembly and axonal transport." J Neurosci 1994. DOI:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.14-11-06982.1994
Petzold A. "Neurofilament phosphoforms: surrogate markers for axonal injury." Brain 2005. DOI:10.1093/brain/awh269
Lu CH, et al. "Neurofilament light chain: A prognostic biomarker in ALS." Neurology 2012. DOI:10.1212/WNL.0b013e31825dceeb
Gentil BJ, et al. "Neurofilament phosphorylation in neuronal death." J Neurochem 2019. DOI:10.1111/jnc.14539
The study of Neurofilament Heavy Chain (Nf H) has evolved significantly over the past decades. Research in this area has revealed important insights into the underlying mechanisms of neurodegeneration and continues to drive therapeutic development.
Historical context and key discoveries in this field have shaped our current understanding and will continue to guide future research directions.
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