title: Structure-function studies of human ciliary neurotrophic factor.
abstract: Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) is a polypeptide that promotes the survival and/or differentiation of a number of neural cell types. Here we present a structural and functional analysis of the human CNTF molecule. Variant proteins were synthesized by Escherichia coli transformed with mutant cDNA constructs, and purified by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and reverse phase high pressure liquid chromatography. Most variant CNTF proteins lacked neurotrophic activity, but two N- and C-terminal deletions (delta 2-14 and delta 173-200, respectively) actually displayed a several-fold increase in specific activity. Loss of biological activity was accompanied by changes in the alpha-helical nature of CNTF as measured by circular dichroism. These data strengthen the proposed similarity between CNTF and the family of hematopoietic cytokines.
authors.affiliation: Fidia Research Laboratories, FIDIA S.p.A., Abano Terme, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Negro
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Corsa
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Corona
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Grandi
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Skaper
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Callegaro
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001681:Biological Assay; D002642:Chick Embryo; D020934:Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor; D006801:Humans; D016296:Mutagenesis; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D020934:Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins