title: Activin is a nerve cell survival molecule.
abstract: The structures of five neurotrophic molecules have so far been published. Nerve growth factor, fibroblast growth factor and purpurin, have been identified as nerve-cell survival molecules. More recently, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and ciliary neurotrophic factor have been cloned and sequenced. As all these proteins stimulate the survival of ciliary or sensory neurons, a new cell survival assay is required if novel neurotrophic molecules are to be discovered. P19 teratoma cells differentiate to nerve-like cells in the presence of 5 x 10(-7) M retinoic acid (RA). But when P19 cells are plated in N2 synthetic medium without being exposed to RA, they die within 48 h. In an attempt to identify a molecule(s) that can substitute for RA in promoting P19 survival, we assayed serum-free growth-conditioned media for their ability to promote P19 survival. One cell line from the rat eye secreted a molecule that promoted the survival of P19 cells and some types of nerve cell. We identified this molecule as activin, better known for its role in hormone secretion.
authors.affiliation: Salk Institute, La Jolla, California 92037.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schubert
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: LaCorbiere
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vaughan
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Karr
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Fischer
mesh_terms: D028341:Activins; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000502:physiology; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003470:Culture Media; D005123:Eye; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007265:Inhibins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology*; D051381:Rats; D013724:Teratoma; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D028341:Activins; D007265:Inhibins