Jekyll-Hyde neurotrophins: the story of proNGF.
Neurotrophins promote neuronal survival and differentiation by binding to two classes of cell surface receptors: members of the Trk-family receptor tyrosine kinases and p75(NTR), a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily. The discoveries that the unprocessed proneurotrophin peptide is both a preferential high-affinity ligand for p75(NTR) (with minimal affinity for trkA) and a potent inducer of p75(NTR)-mediated neuronal cell death are likely to change our understanding of neurotrophin physiology and our ability to manipulate their signaling pathways.
Ibáñez
Carlos F
CF
Division of Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden. carlos.ibanez@neuro.ki.se [corrected]
D016923:Cell Death; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000378:metabolism*; D020800:Receptor, Nerve Growth Factor; D020917:Receptor, trkA / Q000819:agonists; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor / Q000819:agonists*
D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D011498:Protein Precursors; D020800:Receptor, Nerve Growth Factor; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor; C061397:pro-nerve growth factor, human; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor; D020917:Receptor, trkA