Human Neurturin Antibody

Neurturin (NTN) is a member of the GDNF family of ligands which also includes glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), persephin, and artemin. GDNF family proteins are distant members of the TGF-beta superfamily and contain a conserved seven cysteine motif found in the entire family. Human NTN encodes a 197 amino acid (aa) preproprotein with a 19 aa residue putative signal peptide and a 76 aa pro region. Proteolytic cleavage of the pro-protein occurs at an RXXR consensus sequence. The native protein is a disulfide-linked homodimer with a calculated monomeric mass of about 12.5 kDa. The amino acid sequence of human NTN shares 91% identity to mouse NTN. NTN also shares about 42% similarity with GDNF. The bioactivities of all GDNF family ligands are mediated through a receptor complex composed of a high affinity ligand binding component (GFR alpha1 - GFR alpha4) and a common signaling component, cRET (receptor tyrosine kinase). NTN prefers to bind GFR alpha2 but can also bind GFR alpha1. NTN can promote the survival of a variety of neurons including sympathetic, sensory, and central nervous system neurons. The wide expression of NTN in both neuronal and non-neuronal tissues suggests that NTN may regulate the development and maintenance of the central and peripheral nervous systems and other systems.