Human GFR alpha-3/GDNF R alpha-3 Antibody

Glial cell line-derived growth factor (GDNF), neurturin (NTN), persephin (PEP) and artemin (ART), 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 these neurotrophic factors are mediated through a receptor complex composed of the non ligand-binding signaling subunit (c-Ret receptor tyrosine kinase) and one of four ligand binding cysteine-rich glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol (GPI)-linked cell surface proteins (GFR alpha-1, 2, 3, or 4). These four GFR-alpha  proteins share conserved placements of many of their cysteine residues. GFR alpha-1, 2, 3, or 4 have been shown to preferentially bind GDNF, NTN, ART, and PSP, respectively. While the GFR alpha-3/Ret complex is highly specific for ART, the GFR alpha-1 /Ret complex is extremely promiscuous and may also be utilized by NTN and ART. Human GFR alpha-3 cDNA encodes a 400 amino acid (aa) precursor protein with an N-terminal signal peptide and C-terminal hydrophobic domain. GFR alpha-3 is approximately 34% and 36% identical to GFR alpha-1 and GFR alpha-2, respectively. Human and mouse GFR alpha-3 share approximately 76% aa sequence homology. The gene encoding GFR alpha-3 has been localized to human chromosome 5. GFR alpha-3 is expressed at high levels in the developing and adult sensory and sympathetic ganglia of the peripheral nervous system. It is also expressed in non-neural tissues and may show tissue-specific differences in molecular weight. In the trigeminal ganglions, the expression of GFR alpha-3 is found in a population of neurons distinct from those expressing GFR alpha-1 or 2.