Skip to main content

REVIEW article

Front. Neurosci.
Sec. Neurodegeneration
Volume 18 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1395294

The role of synaptic protein NSF in the development and progression of neurological diseases

Provisionally accepted
Li Zou Li Zou *Jingyue Yang Jingyue Yang Yumin Liu Yumin Liu *
  • Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    This document provides a comprehensive examination of the pivotal function of the N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor (NSF) protein in synaptic function. The NSF protein directly participates in critical biological processes, including the cyclic movement of synaptic vesicles (SVs) between exocytosis and endocytosis, the release and transmission of neurotransmitters, and the development of synaptic plasticity through interactions with various proteins, such as SNARE proteins and neurotransmitter receptors. This review also described the multiple functions of NSF in intracellular membrane fusion events and its close associations with several neurological disorders, such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and epilepsy.Subsequent studies should concentrate on determining high-resolution structures of NSF in different domains, identifying its specific alterations in various diseases, and screening small molecule regulators of NSF from multiple perspectives. These research endeavors aim to reveal new therapeutic targets associated with the biological functions of NSF and disease mechanisms.

    Keywords: NSF, SNAREs, synaptic vesicle, neurotransmitter, neurodegeneration

    Received: 03 Mar 2024; Accepted: 04 Oct 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Zou, Yang and Liu. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence:
    Li Zou, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, Hubei Province, China
    Yumin Liu, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, Hubei Province, China

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.