Mag - myelin-associated glycoprotein

This gene encodes a type I membrane protein and member of the immunoglobulin-like superfamily. It is expressed in myelinating glial cells, including oligodendrocytes of the central nervous system and Schwann cells of the peripheral nervous system. Mice lacking the encoded protein express abundant myelin, but suffer long-term axon degeneration, altered distribution of channels and adhesion molecules at nodes of Ranvier, and altered axon cytoskeletal structure. While not required for myelination, the encoded protein enhances axon-myelin stability, helps to structure nodes of Ranvier, and regulates the axon cytoskeleton. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants. [provided by RefSeq, Sep 2016]