Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (UniProt P23560; also known as Abrineurin, BDNF, Neurotrophin) is encoded by the BDNF (also known as BULN2) gene (Gene ID 627) in human. BDNF is a member of the NGF family of neurotrophic factors (also named neurotrophins) that are required for the differentiation and survival of specific neuronal subpopulations in both the central as well as the peripheral nervous system. The neurotrophin family is comprised of at least four proteins including NGF, BDNF, NT3, and NT4/5. BDNF mediates its neurotrophic properties by signaling through the high affinity cell surface receptor gp145/trkB. BDNF is initially produced with a signal peptide (a.a. 1-18) and a propeptide (a.a. 19-128) sequence, the removal of which yields the mature BDNF (a.a. 129-247).
