GDNF from mouse has been used for stimulating primary murine cultures of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons.
GDNF (glial cell line derived neurotrophic factor) is a disulfide-linked homodimeric neurotrophic factor structurally related to Artemin, Neurturin and Persephin. These proteins belong to the cysteine-knot superfamily of growth factors that assume stable dimeric protein structures. The functional murine GDNF ligand is a disulfide-linked homodimer, of two 15.1kDa polypeptide chains called monomers. Each monomer contains seven conserved cysteine residues, one of which is used for inter-chain disulfide bridging and the others are involved in intramolecular ring formation known as the cysteine knot configuration.
GDNF (glial cell line derived neurotrophic factor) signals through a multicomponent receptor system, composed of a RET (receptor tyrosine kinase) and one of the four GFR-α (α1-α4) receptors (GDNF family receptors). GDNF specifically promotes dopamine uptake and survival and morphological differentiation of midbrain neurons. Using Parkinson′s disease monkey model, GDNF has been shown to improve conditions such as bradykinesia, rigidity, and postural instability. It might also be involved in the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. GDNF is needed for proper spermatogonial stem cell survival and proliferation.
