The GDNF family: signalling, biological functions and therapeutic value.
Members of the nerve growth factor (NGF) and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) families   comprising neurotrophins and GDNF-family ligands (GFLs), respectively   are crucial for the development and maintenance of distinct sets of central and peripheral neurons. Knockout studies in the mouse have revealed that members of these two families might collaborate or act sequentially in a given neuron. Although neurotrophins and GFLs activate common intracellular signalling pathways through their receptor tyrosine kinases, several clear differences exist between these families of trophic factors.
Airaksinen
Matti S
MS
Programme of Molecular Neurobiology, Institute of Biotechnology, P.O. Box 56, Viikki Biocenter, FIN-00014, University of Helsinki, Finland. Mairaksi@operoni.helsinki.fi
Saarma
Mart
M
D000818:Animals; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D051097:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Receptors; D006801:Humans; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009474:Neurons / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D051096:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*
D029721:Drosophila Proteins; C495039:GDNF protein, human; D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D051097:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Receptors; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D051096:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; C416649:Ret protein, Drosophila