Calpain in the CNS: From Synaptic Function to Neurotoxicity
Jing Liu1*,
Ming Cheng Liu2,3, and
Kevin K. W. Wang1,2,3*
1Center for Neuroproteomics and Biomarkers Research, Department of Psychiatry, McKnight Brain Institute, Post Office Box 100256, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
2Center for Traumatic Brain Injury Studies, Department of Neuroscience, McKnight Brain Institute, Post Office Box 100256, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
3Center of Innovative Research, Banyan Biomarkers, Inc., 12085 Research Drive, Alachua, FL 32615, USA.
Gloss: The calpains constitute a class of cellular cysteine proteases that require calcium and are functionally active at neutral pH. In the central nervous system (CNS), controlled activation of calpains may be critical to synaptic function and memory formation. In contrast, physical trauma, or chemical or ischemic insults that lead to a sustained increase in intracellular calcium concentration, may elicit calpain hyperactivation, which is generally associated with severe cellular damage.
*Corresponding authors. E-mail: jingl{at}ufl.edu; kwang{at}banyanbio.com
