General Description
Microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2) is a neuronal protein. It belongs to the MAP2/Tau family. This gene is located to human chromosome 2q34-q35. MAP2 is present in neurons. There are three forms of MAP2; two are similarly sized with apparent molecular weights of 280 kDa (MAP2a and MAP2b) and the third with a lower molecular weight of 70 kDa (MAP2c). In the newborn rat brain, MAP2b and MAP2c are present, while MAP2a is absent. Between postnatal days 10 and 20, MAP2a appears. At the same time, the level of MAP2c drops by 10-fold. This change happens during the period when dendrite growth is completed and when neurons have reached their mature morphology. MAP2 is degraded by a Cathepsin D-like protease in the brain of aged rats. There is some indication that MAP2 is expressed at higher levels in some types of neurons than in other types. MAP2 is known to promote microtubule assembly and to form side-arms on microtubules. It also interacts with neurofilaments, actin, and other elements of the cytoskeleton.
Monoclonal Anti-MAP2 (2a + 2b) (mouse IgG1 isotype) is derived from the hybridoma produced by the fusion of mouse myeloma cells and splenocytes from an immunized mouse.
Biochem/physiol Actions
Microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2) interacts with microtubules to maintain the structure of dendrites. It plays a major role in supporting the actin cytoskeleton in spines, binding and nucleating filamentous actin (f-actin) to modulate spine morphology.
