Tenascin C Protein
Introduction
<table class="infobox infobox-protein">
<tr>
<th class="infobox-header" colspan="2">Tenascin C Protein</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Protein Name</td>
<td>Tenascin C</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Gene</td>
<td>[TNC](/genes/tnc)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">UniProt ID</td>
<td>[P24821](https://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/P24821)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">PDB Structures</td>
<td>1QB0, 1Q7U, 4TPS</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Molecular Weight</td>
<td>240-320 kDa</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Subcellular Localization</td>
<td>Extracellular matrix</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Protein Family</td>
<td>Tenascin family</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Drug/Approach</td>
<td>Target</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Brilliant Blue G</td>
<td>P2X7</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">A-438079</td>
<td>P2X7</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Anti-C1q antibodies</td>
<td>C1q</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">CCR2 antagonists</td>
<td>CCL2/CCR2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Galectin-3 inhibitors</td>
<td>LGALS3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Approach</td>
<td>Target</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Small molecule inhibitors</td>
<td>TNC-binding</td>
</tr>
</table>
Tenascin C 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.
Tenascin C is a large hexameric extracellular matrix glycoprotein with anti-adhesive properties. It is expressed during development and re-expressed in injury, inflammation, and cancer. In the brain, it is associated with amyloid plaques in AD. [@chioza2018]
Overview
Tenascin-C is an extracellular matrix glycoprotein expressed in the developing and adult nervous system. It modulates neuronal migration, axon guidance, synaptic plasticity, and glial scarring. Tenascin-C is upregulated in response to injury and in various neurological diseases. [@feger2017]
This protein is involved in: [^4]
- Extracellular matrix: Modulates ECM organization
- Synaptic plasticity: Regulates synapse formation
- Wound healing: Promotes glial scarring
- Disease associations: Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, glioma, epilepsy
Protein Overview
Structure
The Tenascin C protein belongs to the Tenascin family. The protein has a characteristic structure with.
Normal Function
Tenascin C is involved in extracellular matrix organization and tissue remodeling.
Role in Disease
Alzheimer's Disease
Tenascin C plays a role in AD pathogenesis through expression around plaques and astrocyte reactivity.
Parkinson's Disease
Tenascin C contributes to PD through extracellular matrix remodeling in PD brain.
Other Neurodegenerative Diseases
The protein is implicated in gliomas and fibrosis.
Therapeutic Targeting
Key Publications
Tenascin C in neurodegenerative disease - PMID: To be added
Structure and function of Tenascin C - PMID: To be added
Therapeutic targeting of Tenascin C - PMID: To be added
Tenascin C as a biomarker - PMID: To be added
Tenascin C expression in disease models - PMID: To be addedBackground
The study of Tenascin C 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.
See Also
- [TNC Gene](/genes/tnc)
- [Proteins Index](/proteins)
- [Neuroinflammation Pathway](/mechanisms/neuroinflammation-pathway)
- [Microglia](/cell-types/microglia)
- [Alzheimer's Disease](/diseases/alzheimers-disease)
Structure and Domains
Tenascin C is a large hexameric glycoprotein with a complex domain architecture:
[@feger2017][^4]: C-terminal fibrinogen-like globe (FBG): Receptor binding dom
The FNIII repeats undergo extensive alternative splicing, generating multiple isoforms with different functional properties. This plasticity allows tenascin C to regulate cell behavior in context-dependent ways.
Expression Pattern
Tenascin C shows spatiotemporally restricted expression:
Brain Development
- High expression during embryogenesis
- Concentrated in areas of active neurogenesis
- Guides neuronal migration and axon pathfinding
Adult Brain
- Low baseline expression in healthy adult brain
- Concentrated in certain white matter tracts
- Present in perineuronal nets
Disease States
- Re-expressed in response to injury
- Highly upregulated around amyloid plaques in AD
- Associated with reactive astrocytes (gliosis)
- Present in Lewy bodies in PD brain
Molecular Functions
Tenascin C interacts with multiple receptor systems:
Integrins
- α9β1: Binds to tenascin C FNIII repeats
- αvβ3: Mediates anti-adhesive effects
- α8β1: Neuronal integrin for process extension
Other Receptors
- Contactin: Neural recognition molecule
- RGD-binding integrins: α5β1, αvβ6
- TLR4: Innate immune recognition
Role in Neuroinflammation
Tenascin C is a DAMP (damage-associated molecular pattern) molecule:
Therapeutic Approaches
External Links
- [UniProt](https://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/P24821)
- [PDB](https://www.rcsb.org/)
- [AlphaFold](https://alphafold.ebi.ac.uk/entry/P24821)
References
Midwood K, et al, Tenascin-C in tissue remodeling (2016)
Chioza B, et al, Tenascin-C in neural development (2018)
Feger M, et al, Tenascin-C in the CNS (2017)