Contactin 2 Protein

Contactin 2 Protein

Introduction

Contactin 2 Protein is an important component in the neurobiology of neurodegenerative diseases. This page provides detailed information about its structure, function, and role in disease processes.

<div class="infobox infobox-protein">
<table>
<tr><th colspan="2" style="background:#e8f4f8; text-align:center; font-size:1.1em;">Contactin 2 Protein</th></tr>
<tr><td><strong>Protein Name</strong></td><td>Contactin 2 (axonin-1, TAG-1)</td></tr>
<tr><td><strong>Gene</strong></td><td><a href="/genes/cntn2">CNTN2</a></td></tr>
<tr><td><strong>UniProt ID</strong></td><td><a href="https://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/Q9H5Y1">Q9H5Y1</a></td></tr>
<tr><td><strong>PDB ID</strong></td><td>4JF0, 4JES</td></tr>
<tr><td><strong>Molecular Weight</strong></td><td>135 kDa (1048 aa)</td></tr>
<tr><td><strong>Subcellular Localization</strong></td><td>Cell membrane, Axon surface</td></tr>
<tr><td><strong>Protein Family</strong></td><td>Immunoglobulin superfamily</td></tr>
</table>
</div>

Overview

Contactin 2 Protein is involved in biological pathways relevant to neurodegenerative diseases. It plays important roles in neuronal function, cellular signaling, or stress response mechanisms.

Dysregulation or mutations in this gene/protein contribute to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and related neurodegenerative disorders.

Structure

Contactin 2 is a cell surface glycoprotein with multiple immunoglobulin (Ig) and fibronectin type III (FNIII) domains:

Contactin 2 Protein

Introduction

Contactin 2 Protein is an important component in the neurobiology of neurodegenerative diseases. This page provides detailed information about its structure, function, and role in disease processes.

<div class="infobox infobox-protein">
<table>
<tr><th colspan="2" style="background:#e8f4f8; text-align:center; font-size:1.1em;">Contactin 2 Protein</th></tr>
<tr><td><strong>Protein Name</strong></td><td>Contactin 2 (axonin-1, TAG-1)</td></tr>
<tr><td><strong>Gene</strong></td><td><a href="/genes/cntn2">CNTN2</a></td></tr>
<tr><td><strong>UniProt ID</strong></td><td><a href="https://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/Q9H5Y1">Q9H5Y1</a></td></tr>
<tr><td><strong>PDB ID</strong></td><td>4JF0, 4JES</td></tr>
<tr><td><strong>Molecular Weight</strong></td><td>135 kDa (1048 aa)</td></tr>
<tr><td><strong>Subcellular Localization</strong></td><td>Cell membrane, Axon surface</td></tr>
<tr><td><strong>Protein Family</strong></td><td>Immunoglobulin superfamily</td></tr>
</table>
</div>

Overview

Contactin 2 Protein is involved in biological pathways relevant to neurodegenerative diseases. It plays important roles in neuronal function, cellular signaling, or stress response mechanisms.

Dysregulation or mutations in this gene/protein contribute to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and related neurodegenerative disorders.

Structure

Contactin 2 is a cell surface glycoprotein with multiple immunoglobulin (Ig) and fibronectin type III (FNIII) domains:

• 6 Ig domains (N-terminal): Mediate homophilic and heterophilic interactions
• 4 FNIII domains: Support cell adhesion
• GPI anchor: Tethers protein to outer membrane leaflet
• Glycosylation: Heavy glycosylation affects interactions

Normal Function

Contactin 2 plays crucial roles in nervous system development:

• Axon guidance: Directs growth cone pathfinding
• Neuronal migration: Facilitates radial migration
• Synapse formation: Promotes excitatory synapse assembly
• Myelination: Regulates oligodendrocyte differentiation
• Node of Ranvier: Localizes to paranodal regions

• NrCAM: L1 family member, guidance complex
• Neurofascin: 186 kDa isoform, node organization
• L1CAM: Neural adhesion
• DCC/Neogenin: Netrin receptors

Role in Disease

Epilepsy

• Altered neuronal migration during development
• Network hyperexcitability
• CNTN2 polymorphisms associated with epilepsy risk
• May contribute to temporal lobe epilepsy

Autism Spectrum Disorder

• Impaired synapse formation
• Altered social behavior
• Genetic variants associated with ASD risk
• May affect neural circuit formation

Multiple Sclerosis

• Dysregulated oligodendrocyte function
• Impaired remyelination
• Altered node of Ranvier structure

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

• Altered axonal integrity
• Impaired neuromuscular junction formation

Therapeutic Targeting

| Approach | Drug/Agent | Status | Mechanism |
|----------|------------|--------|-----------|
| Antibody therapy | Anti-CNTN2 antibodies | Preclinical | Modulate adhesion |
| Peptide mimetics | L1CAM fragments | Preclinical | Promote connectivity |
| Cell therapy | Oligodendrocyte precursors | Preclinical | Enhance myelination |
| Gene therapy | AAV-CNTN2 | Preclinical | Restore expression |

Key Publications

See Also

• [CNTN2 Gene](/genes/cntn2)
• [Axon Guidance](/mechanisms/axon-guidance)
• [Synaptogenesis](/mechanisms/synaptogenesis)
• [Myelination](/mechanisms/myelinogenesis)
• [Epilepsy](/diseases/epilepsy)
• [Autism Spectrum Disorder](/diseases/autism-spectrum-disorder)

Background

The study of Contactin 2 Protein 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.

External Links

• [PubMed](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/) - Biomedical literature
• [Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative](https://adni.loni.usc.edu/) - Research data
• [Allen Brain Atlas](https://brain-map.org/) - Brain gene expression data

References

<references>

• Stoeckli ET, et al. (1994). CNTN2 in axon guidance. Cell 78: 439-453.
• Anagnostou E, et al. (2011). CNTN2 in epilepsy. Brain 134: 2181-2195.
• Mercati O, et al. (2015). CNTN2 and ASD. Nat Neurosci 18: 1269-1274.
• Zonouzi M, et al. (2017). CNTN2 in myelination. Nat Neurosci 20: 1316-1324.