Unbiased classification of sensory neuron types by large-scale single-cell RNA sequencing.
Authors: Usoskin D, Furlan A, Islam S, Abdo H, Lonnerberg P, Lou D, Hjerling-Leffler J, Haeggstrom J, Kharchenko O, Kharchenko P, Linnarsson S, Ernfors P
Nat Neurosci, 2015;18(1):145-53.
Species: Mouse
Sample Type: Whole Tissue
Application: IHC
Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor family members sensitize nociceptors in vitro and produce thermal hyperalgesia in vivo.
Authors: Malin SA, Molliver DC, Koerber HR, Cornuet P, Frye R, Albers KM, Davis BM
J. Neurosci., 2006;26(33):8588-99.
Species: Mouse
Sample Type: Whole Cells
Application: ICC
Intracerebral infusion of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor promotes striatal neurogenesis after stroke in adult rats.
Authors: Kobayashi T, Ahlenius H, Thored P, Kobayashi R, Kokaia Z, Lindvall O
Stroke, 2006;37(9):2361-7.
Species: Rat
Sample Type: Whole Cells
Application: ICC
Neurotrophin and GDNF family ligands promote survival and alter excitotoxic vulnerability of neurons derived from murine embryonic stem cells.
Authors: Lee CS, Tee LY, Dusenbery S, Takata T, Golden JP, Pierchala BA, Gottlieb DI, Johnson EM, Choi DW, Snider BJ
Exp. Neurol., 2005;191(1):65-76.
Species: Mouse
Sample Type: Whole Cells
Application: ICC
Expression and function of GDNF family ligands and receptors in the carotid body.
Authors: Leitner ML, Wang LH, Osborne PA, Golden JP, Milbrandt J, Johnson EM
Exp. Neurol., 2005;191(0):S68-79.
Species: Rat
Sample Type: Whole Cells
Application: ICC
GDNF family receptors in the embryonic and postnatal rat heart and reduced cholinergic innervation in mice hearts lacking ret or GFRalpha2.
Authors: Hiltunen JO, Laurikainen A, Airaksinen MS, Saarma M
Dev. Dyn., 2000;219(1):28-39.
Species: Mouse
Sample Type: Whole Tissue
Application: IHC

Glial cell line-derived growth factor (GDNF), neurturin (NTN), persephin (PSP) and artemin, distant members of the TGF-beta  superfamily, are neurotrophic factors for a variety of neuronal populations in the central and peripheral nervous systems. The bioactivities of GDNF and NTN are mediated through a receptor complex composed of the non ligand-binding signaling subunit (c-Ret receptor tyrosine kinase) and either of two ligand binding subunits, GDNF receptor alpha -1 (GFR alpha -1, also known as Trn R1) or GFR alpha -2 (also known as Trn R2). GFR alpha -1 and -2 are members of a family of at least four cysteine-rich glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol (GPI)-linked cell surface proteins that share conserved placements of many of their cysteine residues. Binding of GDNF or NTN to membrane-associated GFR alpha -1 or GFR alpha -2 initiates the association with and activation of the Ret tyrosine kinase.

Mouse GFR alpha -2 cDNA encodes a 463 amino acid (aa) residue protein with a putative N-terminal 21 aa residue hydrophobic signal peptide. Like other GPI-linked proteins, rat GFR alpha -2 has a C-terminal hydrophobic region which is preceded by a 3 aa residue (SGS) GPI-binding site. Human GFR alpha -2 shares 96.5% amino acid identity with mouse GFR alpha -2. The expression of the various GFR alpha s are differentially regulated in the central and peripheral nervous system, suggesting complementary roles for the GFR alpha s in mediating the activities of the GDNF family of neurotrophic factors.

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