proBDNF Products

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)is a member of the nerve growth factor family. BDNF is necessary for survival of striatal neurons in the brain and also acts as a neuroprotectant of the major neuronal types (eg. hippocampal, cortical and basal forebrain cholinergic neurons). Expression of the BDNF gene is reduced in both Alzheimer's and Huntington disease patients. Furthermore BDNF may play a role in the regulation of stress response and in the biology of mood disorders. BDNF protein is synthesized as a precursor, proBDNF, which is cleaved to the mature 14-kDa form. It is known that BDNF exists as a mixture of proBDNF and mature BDNF (PMID: 1265414). Although the biological activity of proBDNF is unclear, there is evidence suggesting that reductions in proBDNF levels affects neuronal degeneration in selective brain regions (eg. in Alzheimer's disease).