What is "neurocalcin"

n. (context biochemistry English) A neuronal calcium-binding protein found in mammalian brains.

Neurocalcin is a neuronal calcium-binding protein that belongs to the neuronal calcium sensor (NCS) family of proteins. It expressed in mammalian brains. It possesses a Ca/ myristoyl switch

The subclass of neurocalcins are brain-specific proteins that fit into the EF-hand superfamily of calcium binding proteins. The NCS family were defined by the photoreceptor cell-specific protein, recoverin. Neurocalcin was purified from the bovine brain by using calcium-dependent drug affinity chromatography. The amino acid sequence showed that neurocalcin has three functional calcium binding sites. It is expressed in the central nervous system, retina, and adrenal gland. With this unique pattern of expression it is thought that neurcalcin offers a different physiological role than similar proteins visinin and recoverin.