hNT-4h
Neurotrophin-4
recombinant, E. coli
The neurotrophins ("neuro" means nerve and "trophe" means nutrient) are a family of soluble, basic growth factors which regulate neuronal development, maintenance, survival and death in the CNS and the PNS. Neurotrophin-4 (NT-4) is expressed in neurons of the superior cervical, stellate and celiac ganglion, T-cells and is synthesized by keratinocytes.
The structural hallmark of all the neurotrophins is the characteristic arrangement of the disulfide bridges known as the cysteine knot, which has been found in other growth factors such as PDGF.
The rat and human forms of NT-4 are 96% homologous. NT-4 has been shown to promote dendritic outgrowth and calcium currents in cultured mesencephalic dopamine neurons, to promote growth and remodeling of adult motor neuron innervation, to be anterograde survival factors for postsynaptic cells and to protect against apoptotic neuronal death. The biological effects of NT-4 are mediated by two receptors: TrkB which is specific for NT-4 and BDNF, and p75 which binds all the neurotrophins.
Neurotrophic Factors; Neurotrophins