Recombinant Human BDNF Protein, CF Best Seller

BDNF is often utilized as a cell culture supplement to promote neural differentiation in regenerative medicine studies and clinical manufacturing protocols.

The neurotrophin family is comprised of at least four proteins including BDNF, nerve growth factor (NGF), neurotrophin-3 (NT3), and NT4/5. Human BDNF is initially expressed as a proprotein, which is then cleaved to yield a mature protein. Mature BDNF is a non-covalently linked homodimer, with each monomer containing antiparallel beta -strands and a characteristic cystine knot motif. Within the mature domain, human BDNF shares the identical amino acid sequence with mature mouse and rat BDNF.

BDNF is strongly expressed in various regions of the brain, including the hippocampus and cerebellum, and weaker expression has been detected in the thymus, liver, spleen, heart, and lung. BDNF participates in axonal growth and pathfinding and in the modulation of dendritic growth and morphology and in later stages of development regulates synaptic transmission and plasticity and acts as a central modulator of pain. BDNF binds with high affinity and specifically activates the TrkB tyrosine kinase receptor. BDNF signaling via TrkB is essential for adult synaptic plasticity and the formation of memories.

The BDNF signaling pathway utilizes both AKT and ERK pathways to exert its pleiotrophic effects in the central nervous system. Decreased expression of BDNF is seen in many neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, and autism. Further, BDNF is proposed as a biomarker for psychiatric disorders such as bipolar disease and depression and has been implicated in posttraumatic stress disorder, phobia, and panic disorder. A single amino acid substitution, Val66Met, has been shown to lead to reduced, activity-dependent BDNF secretion and memory impairment.