title: [Function, molecular structure and gene expression regulation of nerve growth factor].
abstract: Nerve growth factor (NGF) is the initially discovered and best characterized target-derived neurotrophic factor. The NGF gene family includes NGF, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurotrophin (NT)-3, NT-4, and NT-5. The members of this family can interact with the members of trk family of receptor-like protein-tyrosine kinases (trk, trk B and trk C), suggesting that the different trk protein serves as receptor subunits for the different neurotrophins. Meanwhile, some recent reports have shown that exogenous administration of NGF itself or a stimulator of NGF synthesis to damaged neurons have beneficial effects. These findings open the possibility of new therapy for nervous diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, Gifu Pharmaceutical University.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Furukawa
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor