Spotlight on plasticity-related genes: Current insights in health and disease

The development of the central nervous system is highly complex, involving numerous developmental processes that must take place with high spatial and temporal precision. This requires a series of complex and well-coordinated molecular processes that are tighly controlled and regulated by, for example, a variety of proteins and lipids. Deregulations in these processes, including genetic mutations, can lead to the most severe maldevelopments. The present review provides an overview of the protein family Plasticity-related genes (PRG1–5), including their role during neuronal differentiation, their molecular interactions, and their participation in various diseases. As these proteins can modulate the function of bioactive lipids, they are able to influence various cellular processes. Furthermore, they are dynamically regulated during development, thus playing an important role in the development and function of synapses. First studies, conducted not only in mouse experiments but also in humans, revealed that mutations or dysregulations of these proteins lead to changes in lipid metabolism, resulting in severe neurological deficits. In recent years, as more and more studies have shown their involvement in a broad range of diseases, the complexity and broad spectrum of known and as yet unknown interactions between PRGs, lipids, and proteins make them a promising and interesting group of potential novel therapeutic targets.