Neuronal PAS domain protein 4

Neuronal PAS domain protein 4 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the NPAS4 gene. 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.

Function

NPAS4 is a member of the basic helix-loop-helix-PER-ARNT-SIM class of transcriptional regulators, which are involved in a wide range of physiologic and developmental events..
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.