Neuronal PAS domain protein 4 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the NPAS4 gene. [5] The NPAS4 gene is a neuronal activity-dependent immediate early gene that has been identified as a transcription factor. The protein regulates the transcription of genes that control inhibitory synapse development, synaptic plasticity and most recently reported also behavior. [6]
NPAS4 is a member of the basic helix-loop-helix-PER-ARNT-SIM (bHLH-PAS) class of transcriptional regulators, which are involved in a wide range of physiologic and developmental events (Ooe et al., 2004 [PubMed 14701734]).[supplied by OMIM, Mar 2008].
NPAS4 has been shown to play critical roles in regulating the plasticity of inhibitory neurons. It was found that NPAS4 helps to regulate plasticity by orchestrating a redistribution of inhibitory synapses, wherein they are lost from proximal apical dendrites of CA1 pyramidal neurons and increased on the somata. [7]
This article incorporates text from the United States National Library of Medicine, which is in the public domain.