Neurogranin (protein kinase C substrate) (NRGN)

Neurogranin is an intrinsically unstructured, postsynaptic protein highly expressed in the brain, especially in dendritic spines of pyramidal cells of the hippocampus and cortex[2][3][4]. It binds calmodulin through its IQ motif in a calcium-sensitive manner and is a substrate for protein kinase C, which modulates its association with calmodulin[1][2][4][6]. By regulating calmodulin availability, neurogranin plays a pivotal role in intracellular calcium signaling, synaptic plasticity, long-term potentiation, and thus learning and memory formation. Its gene, NRGN, is controlled in part by thyroid hormones. Clinical investigations highlight neurogranin's altered expression in multiple neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases, making it a candidate biomarker for disease state and progression[1][2][3][4][5][6]. Although its primary molecular role is as a signaling modulator, neurogranin's concentration in cerebrospinal fluid is being developed as a diagnostic and prognostic tool for synaptic dysfunction and neurodegeneration, especially Alzheimer's disease.

Other names

NeurograninNRGNNgRC3p17hngNEUG(55-78)calmodulin-binding proteinprotein kinase C substrate, RC3BICKS

For drugs targeting neurogranin (hypothetical/exploratory): - Modulation of neurogranin–calmodulin binding, affecting calcium signaling and synaptic activity - Altering phosphorylation by protein kinase C to influence synaptic strength - Regulation of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR)-dependent plasticity and signaling