Glial fibrillary acidic protein
Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) is a protein that is encoded by the GFAP gene in humans. It is a type III intermediate filament (IF) protein that is expressed by numerous cell types of the central nervous system (CNS), including astrocytes and ependymal cells during development. GFAP has also been found to be expressed in glomeruli and peritubular fibroblasts taken from rat kidneys, Leydig cells of the testis in both hamsters and humans, human keratinocytes, human osteocytes and chondrocytes and stellate cells of the pancreas and liver in rats.
GFAP immunostaining in a glial neoplasm (anaplastic astrocytoma)
GFAP immunostaining of an astrocyte in cell culture in red and counterstained for vimentin in green. GFAP and vimentin colocalize in cytoplasmic intermediate filaments, so the astrocyte appears yellow. Nuclear DNA is stained blue with DAPI. Antibodies, cell preparation and image generated by EnCor Biotechnology Inc.
Intermediate filaments (IFs) are cytoskeletal structural components found in the cells of vertebrates, and many invertebrates. Homologues of the IF protein have been noted in an invertebrate, the cephalochordate Branchiostoma.
Structure of lamin a/c globular domain
Human vimentin coil 2b fragment (cys2)
Vimentin fibers in fibroblasts
