Internexin

The protein is a major component of the intermediate filament network in small interneurons and cerebellar granule cells, where it is present in the parallel fibers.

Alpha-internexin has a homologous central rod domain of approximately 310 amino acid residues that form a highly conserved alpha helical region.

This model includes the following steps: The close connection between the neurofilament triplet proteins and α-internexin is quite obvious.

[4] If one genetically deletes NF-M and/or NF-H in mice, the transport and presence, in the axons of the Central Nervous System, of α-internexin will be drastically reduced.

In adult cells, α-internexin is expressed abundantly in the central nervous system, in the cytoplasm of neurons, along with the neurofilament triplet proteins.

[4] Alpha-internexin is a brain and central nervous system filament that is involved in neuronal development and has been suggested to play a role in axonal outgrowth.

Mixed neuron/glial cultures from p18 rat embryo brain stained with antibody to alpha-internexin which reveals, in red, neuronal processes and cell bodies. Cells were also labelled in green for Coronin 1a, a marker for microglia.