2',3'-Cyclic Nucleotide 3'-Phosphodiesterase (CNP)

2,3-CNP is a myelin-associated enzyme that makes up 4% of total CNS myelin protein, and is thought to undergo significant age-associated changes. CNP is expressed exclusively by oligodendrocytes in the CNS, and the appearance of CNP seems to be one of the earliest events of oligodendrocyte differentiation.CNP is thought to play a critical role in the events leading up to myelination.CNP also associates with microtubules in brain tissue and FRTL-5 thyroid cells, and is reported to have Microtubule-associated protein-like activity, being able to catalyze microtubule formation at low molar ratios. Deletion of the C-terminus of CNP or phosphorylation abolish the catalytic activity of microtubule formation. CNP can link tubulin to cellular membranes, and might be involved in the regulation cytoplasmic microtubule distribution.