title: BDNF Propeptide: A Novel Modulator of Synaptic Plasticity.
abstract: One of the most characterized neurotrophic factors is brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which regulates neuronal survival and differentiation, and functions in activity-dependent plasticity processes such as long-term potentiation, long-term depression (LTD), and learning memory. Similar to other growth factors, BDNF protein is produced by transcriptional and translational mechanisms. Nevertheless, a posttranslational mechanism, the proteolytic conversion of precursor BDNF into at least two fragments, bioactive BDNF and the prodomain, has not been well elucidated. Recently, we demonstrated that the BDNF prodomain, which is named the BDNF propeptide, was endogenously secreted from neuronal cells and facilitated a cellular mechanism of LTD, suggesting the manner through which this posttranslational mechanism multiplies the biological actions of BDNF. In this chapter, we focus on the BDNF propeptide, especially in synaptic plasticity, and discuss the role of this molecule in the brain. The findings regarding the BDNF propeptide would provide new insights for understanding the mechanisms of action of the propeptides of growth factors as well as the biological roles of neurotrophins.
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Research Institute, Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Osaka, Japan; Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology (CREST), Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), Kawaguchi, Japan. Electronic address: m-kojima@aist.go.jp.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kojima
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Research Institute, Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Osaka, Japan; Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology (CREST), Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), Kawaguchi, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mizui
mesh_terms: D019943:Amino Acid Substitution; D000818:Animals; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D036881:Long-Term Synaptic Depression; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D054730:Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D022142:Secretory Vesicles / Q000378:metabolism; D009435:Synaptic Transmission
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D011498:Protein Precursors; C426674:brain-derived neurotrophic factor precursor; C579455:BDNF protein, human
keywords: BDNF; Growth factor; Hippocampus; Long-term depression; Polymorphism; Propeptide