ELAVL4

ELAVL4 (ELAV Like RNA Binding Protein 4), commonly known as HuD, is a member of the ELAV/Hu family of RNA-binding proteins. It specifically binds adenylate-uridylate-rich elements (AREs) in the 3' untranslated regions of target mRNAs (e.g., BDNF, GAP-43), regulating their stability, translation, and subcellular localization—critical for neuronal development and synaptic plasticity.
Dysregulation of ELAVL4 links to neurological disorders: reduced expression in Alzheimer’s disease impairs BDNF mRNA stability, while overexpression in neuroblastoma drives tumor proliferation. It interacts with MAPK/ERK and PI3K/Akt pathways. Preclinical small molecules targeting ELAVL4-RNA interactions are being explored for these conditions, though no clinical candidates have entered trials yet.