MAP2 [MD239R]

Microtubule associated protein 2 (MAP2) encodes a protein that belongs to the microtubule-associated protein family. The proteins of this family are involved in microtubule assembly. The products of these genes are neuron-specific cytoskeletal proteins that are enriched in dendrites, which implicate a role in determining and stabilizing dentritic shape during neuron development. MAP2 is made up of two bands of an apparent molecular weight of approximately 280 kD, referred to as MAP2a and MAP2b. A third lower molecular weight form, usually called MAP2c, corresponds to a pair of protein bands running at ~70 kD on SDS-PAGE gels. All these MAP2 forms are derived from a single gene by alternative transcription, and all share a C-terminal sequence which includes either three or four microtubule binding peptide sequences, which are very similar to those found in the related microtubule binding protein τ (tau).