Description
Product Characteristics: Shank proteins make up a family of scaffold proteins identified through their interaction with a variety of membrane and cytoplasmic proteins (1). Shank proteins at postsynaptic sites of excitatory synapses play roles in signal transmission into the postsynaptic neuron. Studies suggest that Shank2 is expressed in the neurons of the developing retina, and could play a role in the neuronal differentiation of the developing retina (2). Other recent studies suggest that the disruption of glutamate receptors at the Shank postsynaptic platform could contribute to the destruction of the postsynaptic density, which underlies the synaptic dysfunction and loss in Alzheimer's disease (3).
Target Information: Seems to be an adapter protein in the postsynaptic density (PSD) of excitatory synapses that interconnects receptors of the postsynaptic membrane including NMDA-type and metabotropic glutamate receptors via complexes with GKAP/PSD-95 and Homer, respectively, and the actin-based cytoskeleton. Plays a role in the structural and functional organization of the dendritic spine and synaptic junction