A role for neuroserpin in neuron morphological development.

摘要

Serpin, or serine protease inhibitor, represents the largest family of protease inhibitors that are found in almost all forms of life, including viruses, prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Serpin suppresses its targets by forming stable, covalent complexes with protease molecules (Law et al. 2006). One of the best known serpin family members, neuroserpin, is expressed mainly in neurons in both the central and peripheral nervous systems, starting from the late stage of neural development and remaining throughout adulthood. Neuroserpin can be detected in most areas of the neuron, including dendrites and axons, and is enriched at the axonal terminals (Borges et al. 2010). Following synthesis and processing in the endoplasmic reticulum, neuroserpin is supposed to be delivered to axons and dendrites. Although the exact site of secretion remains unclear, neuroserpin may be released into the extracellular environment at synaptic sites, possibly from the pre-synaptic compartment.