GDNF Receptor alpha 1 peptide

Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) is a potent survival factor for central and peripheral neurons and is essential for the development of kidneys and the enteric nervous system. Physiological responses to GDNF require the presence of a novel glycosylphosphadidylinositol linked protein GDNFRa, which is a cell surface receptor for GDNF. The cDNAs encoding GDNFRa from human, rat, chicken and mouse have been cloned recently. GDNFRa was also termed Ret ligand 1 (RETL1) or TGF-b-related neurotrophic factor receptor 1 (TrnR1) and nominated as GFRa-1. GFRa-1 binds GDNF specifically and mediates activation of the Ret protein tyrosine kinase (PTK). Thus, GDNF, GFRa and the Ret PTK form a complex to transduce GDNF signal and to mediate GDNFfunction.