Role of neuronal calcium sensor protein VILIP-1 in synaptic plasticity and neurodegeneration

Abstract

Calcium signals regulate a wide range of cellular functions including neurotransmission, signal transduction, gene expression, cytoskeleton dynamics, cell metabolism, cell cycle and cell death. Visinin-like protein 1 (VILIP-1) is a neuronal Ca2+ sensor (NCS) protein that belongs to the calmodulin superfamily of calcium sensor proteins. VILIP-1 shows cell surface membrane association, including association with membranes of axons and dendrites, where it functions as a modulator of cell surface associated proteins.