Agrin (AGRN) ELISA Kit for Rat

AGRN: Plays a central role in the formation and the maintenance of the neuromuscular junction (NMJ), the synapse between motor neuron and skeletal muscle. Ligand of the MUSK signaling complex that directly binds LRP4 in this complex and induces the phosphorylation of MUSK, the kinase of the complex. The activation of MUSK in myotubes induces the formation of NMJ by regulating different processes including the transcription of specific genes and the clustering of AChR in the postsynaptic membrane. Defects in AGRN are a cause of myasthenia, limb-girdle, familial (LGM). A congenital myasthenic syndrome characterized by a typical 'limb girdle' pattern of muscle weakness with small, simplified neuromuscular junctions but normal acetylcholine receptor and acetylcholinesterase function.

Protein type: Cell development/differentiation; Cell surface; Apoptosis; Cell adhesion; Extracellular matrix; Secreted, signal peptide; Secreted

Cellular Component: extracellular matrix; proteinaceous extracellular matrix; extracellular space; cell surface; cytoplasm; plasma membrane; integral to membrane; extracellular region; basement membrane; basal lamina; synapse; cell junction

Molecular Function: heparan sulfate proteoglycan binding; protein binding; transforming growth factor beta binding; acetylcholine receptor regulator activity; calcium ion binding; sialic acid binding

Biological Process: positive regulation of filopodium formation; regulation of protein amino acid phosphorylation; positive regulation of protein binding; neurotransmitter receptor metabolic process; positive regulation of synaptic growth at neuromuscular junction; receptor clustering; synaptic transmission; synaptogenesis; plasma membrane organization and biogenesis; positive regulation of neuron apoptosis; protein heterotetramerization; regulation of synaptic growth at neuromuscular junction; positive regulation of transcription from RNA polymerase II promoter; positive regulation of protein amino acid phosphorylation; regulation of receptor activity; neuromuscular junction development