Neurotrophin-5: A novel neurotrophic factor that activates trk and trkB

• Published in: Neuron (Cambridge, Mass.) Vol. 7; no. 5; pp. 857 - 866
• Main Authors: Berkemeier, Lucy R., Winslow, John W., Kaplan, David R., Nikolics, Karoly, Goeddel, David V., Rosenthal, Arnon
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, MA Elsevier Inc 01.11.1991; Cell Press
• Subjects: Amino Acid Sequence; Analytical, structural and metabolic biochemistry; Animals; Base Sequence; Biological and medical sciences; DNA - isolation & purification; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene Expression Regulation - physiology; Humans; Membrane Proteins - physiology; Molecular Sequence Data; Nerve Growth Factors - genetics; Nerve Growth Factors - metabolism; Nerve Growth Factors - physiology; Protein hormones. Growth factors. Cytokines; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases - physiology; Proteins; Proto-Oncogene Proteins - physiology; Rats - genetics; Receptor, Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor; Receptor, trkA; Recombinant Proteins; Nerve growth factor; Homology; Aminoacid sequence; Trophic factor; Immunological method
• ISSN: 0896-6273; 1097-4199
• DOI: 10.1016/0896-6273(91)90287-A

In vertebrates, the formation and maintenance of neuronal connections are subject to regulation by multiple target-derived, diffusible (neurotrophic) factors. Here we describe the identification and characterization of a novel neurotrophic factor designated neurotrophin-5 (NT-5). NT-5 is structurally related to nerve growth factor and is expressed in embryonic as well as adult tissues. Recombinant NT-5 promotes the survival of peripheral sensory and sympathetic neurons and induces differentiation of the pheochromocytoma cell line PC12. NT-5 activates two trk-related tyrosine kinase receptors and shares these receptors with other neurotrophins. Activation of multiple receptors may permit a single neurotrophin to control target innervation by distinct neuronal populations. Receptor sharing could enable neurotrophic factors emanating from distinct targets to cooperate in regulating neurons with multiple connections.