Go Back NT-3

Product Detail

A DNA sequence encoding the human NT-3 protein sequence (containing the signal peptide and the mature NT-3 sequence) was expressed in modified human 293 cells.

Neurotrophin-3 (NT-3), also known as nerve growth factor-2 (NGF2) or hippocampus-derived neurotrophic factor (HDNF), is a 257 amino acid precursor protein with a secretory signal sequence of 16 amino acids, a pro-peptide of 122 amino acids and a mature protein of 119 amino acids. NT-3 is found in neurons of the central nervous system and is secreted by many human gliomas. NT-3 is also expressed in muscles and its expression is downregulated in denervated muscles. NT-3 selectively supports the survival of certain neuronal cell populations, for example, cultured embryonic rat spinal motor neurons, enhances axon sprouting following adult spinal cord lesions and is involved in the regulation of developing neuromuscular synapses. NT-3 is a useful growth factor, differentiation factor and survival factor for cultured stem cells e.g. neural stem cells, cardiomyocytes and embryonic stem cells as well as various types of differentiated neural cells such as oligodendrocytes. NT-3 acts as a mitogen for cells of the neural crest in serum-free media. The biological activities of NT-3 are mediated by receptors belonging to the Trk family of receptors with intrinsic tyrosine-specific protein kinase activity. NT-3 binds to TrkA, TrkB and TrkC, the first two of which are the high-affinity receptors for NGF and BDNF, respectively. NT-3 also binds to the low affinity nerve growth factor receptor (LAN R). For a recent review please refer to Chao MV, Rajagopal R, and Lee FS (2006) Clin. Sci (Lond) 110(2): 167-173.