title: Extracellular crosstalk: when GDNF meets N-CAM.
abstract: N-CAM has now been identified as a receptor for glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF). This finding solves a long-standing question regarding RET-independent GDNF signaling, and reveals a novel pathway distinct from both GDNF-RET and N-CAM-N-CAM signaling. Functional assays of Schwann cell migration and axon growth of CNS neurons suggest physiological significance for this GDNF-N-CAM pathway.
authors.affiliation: UNC Neuroscience Center, Neuroscience Research Building, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 27599, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
authors.forename: Feng Quan
authors.initials: FQ
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.forename: William D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Snider
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000235:genetics*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics*; D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D020439:Growth Cones / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009420:Nervous System / Q000196:embryology* / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D019006:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: C495039:GDNF protein, human; D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D019006:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules