Binding of brain-derived neurotrophic factor to the nerve growth factor receptor.
The neurotrophic proteins BDNF and NGF are related in their primary structures, and both have high- and low-affinity receptors on their responsive neurons. In this study, we investigate the extent to which these receptors can discriminate between BDNF and NGF. We found that a 1000-fold excess of the heterologous ligand is needed to reduce binding to the high-affinity receptor by 50%, but that the same concentrations of BDNF and NGF similarly reduce the binding of either ligand to the low-affinity receptor. Results obtained with cells transfected with the low-affinity NGF receptor gene indicate that these cells bind BDNF, in addition to NGF, whereas cells before transfection do not. These data indicate that the low-affinity NGF receptor is also a low-affinity BDNF receptor and that whatever is conferring high-affinity binding and biological response also considerably reinforces the ability of the low-affinity receptor to discriminate between NGF and BDNF.
Rodriguez-Tébar
A
A
Max-Planck Institute for Psychiatry, Department of Neurochemistry, Martinsried, Federal Republic of Germany.
Dechant
G
G
Barde
Y A
YA
D000818:Animals; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D002470:Cell Survival; D002642:Chick Embryo; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000378:metabolism*; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor; D014162:Transfection
D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor