Neurofilament Transport.

Neurofilaments are the most plentiful intermediate filament proteins found in neuronal cells. They are important cytoskeletal proteins that are made in the soma and transported into axonal and dendritic processes. Neurofilaments are transported by the process of slow axonal transport, which arises from fast transport interrupted by extended pauses. Some of the mechanisms regulating neurofilament assembly and transport have been identified. It is thought that phosphorylation decreases the rate of neurofilament transport by increasing the time neurofilaments spend pausing. There is also increasing evidence for the involvement of neurofilaments in a number of neurodegenerative disorders such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, hereditary spastic paraplegia, Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease, and Alzheimer΄s disease. Disrupted neurofilament transport is thought to be a common mechanism in some or all of these disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]