Neuritin 1 Like Protein (NRN1L)

NRN1L belongs to the neuritin family. Neuritin is a GPI-anchored protein that promotes neurite outgrowth and branching of neuritic processes in primary hippocampal and cortical cells. Neuritin expression also enhances the development of motor neuron axon arbors by promoting neuromuscular synaptogenesis and by stimulating the addition of new axon branches. Neuritin is induced by neuronal activity and by the neurotrophins, BDNF and NT3. The encoded protein contains a consensus cleavage signal found in glycosylphoshatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored proteins. In vitro assays demonstrated that this protein promotes neurite outgrowth and arborization, suggesting its role in promoting neuritogenesis. NRN1 is expressed in postmitotic-differentiating neurons of the developmental nervous system and neuronal structures associated with plasticity in the adult.