Myelin regulatory factor (MYRF)

Myelin regulatory factor (MYRF) is a membrane-bound transcription factor critical for the initiation and maintenance of myelination in the central nervous system. Encoded by the MYRF gene, it is evolutionarily conserved and unique among transcription factors for being synthesized as a type-II membrane protein with a proline-rich domain, a yeast Ndt80-like DNA-binding domain, two nuclear localization signals, an intramolecular chaperone auto-processing domain (ICA), a transmembrane domain, and a C-terminal domain of unknown function[4][1][3]. Following auto-proteolytic cleavage at the endoplasmic reticulum, the N-terminal trimer translocates to the nucleus and directly binds enhancer regions of oligodendrocyte and myelin genes to activate their transcription[3][4][2]. MYRF expression is restricted to mature, myelinating oligodendrocytes, and its absence in these cells causes severe demyelination and neurological dysfunction, underpinning its essential role in CNS myelin maintenance. Disruptions or mutations in MYRF are implicated in demyelinating diseases, neurodevelopmental disorders, and some congenital syndromes, though no widely used drugs directly target MYRF[4][1].

Other names

Myelin gene regulatory factorMRFGM98