Rat Myelin Associated Glycoprotein, MAG ELI

Adhesion molecule that mediates interactions between myelinating cells and neurons by binding to neuronal sialic acid-containing gangliosides and to the glycoproteins RTN4R and RTN4RL2 (PubMed: 8995428, PubMed: 9298990).

Not required for initial myelination, but seems to play a role in the maintenance of normal axon myelination.

Protects motoneurons against apoptosis, also after injury; protection against apoptosis is probably mediated via interaction with neuronal RTN4R and RTN4RL2.

Required to prevent degeneration of myelinated axons in adults; this probably depends on binding to gangliosides on the axon cell membrane (By similarity).

Negative regulator of neurite outgrowth; in dorsal root ganglion neurons the inhibition is mediated primarily via binding to neuronal RTN4R or RTN4RL2 and to a lesser degree via binding to neuronal gangliosides (PubMed: 17640868).

In cerebellar granule cells the inhibition is mediated primarily via binding to neuronal gangliosides (PubMed: 17640868).

In sensory neurons, inhibition of neurite extension depends only partially on RTN4R, RTN4RL2 and gangliosides (PubMed: 19367338).

Inhibits axon longitudinal growth (PubMed: 9298990).

Inhibits axon outgrowth by binding to RTN4R (By similarity).

Preferentially binds to alpha-2,3-linked sialic acid (PubMed: 8995428).

Binds ganglioside Gt1b (PubMed: 8995428).