Neurocan is a secreted brain-specific chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan (CSPG) whose expression and proteolytic cleavage are developmentally regulated (1). It belongs to the lectican family, is a component of the extracellular matrix and interacts with numerous molecules like Hyalorunan, Tenascins, N-CAM and more (2).
It is processed into a C-terminal (CSPG-150) and an N-terminal (CSPG-190) core glycoprotein which are the major forms occuring in adult rodent brain.
In young brains unprocessed Neurocan can also be detected together with both proteolytic products while its expression drops during development and is hardly detectable In adult brains (3).