Mammalian neurotrophin-4: structure, chromosomal localization, tissue distribution, and receptor specificity

  1. N Y Ip,
  2. C F Ibáñez,
  3. S H Nye,
  4. J McClain,
  5. P F Jones,
  6. D R Gies,
  7. L Belluscio,
  8. M M Le Beau,
  9. R Espinosa3rd, and
  10. S P Squinto
  1. Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Tarrytown, NY 10591.

Abstract

Nerve growth factor, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) are the three members of the neurotrophin family known to exist in mammals. Recently, a fourth neurotrophin (designated neurotrophin-4 or NT-4), which shares all of the features found in the mammalian neurotrophins, has been identified in Xenopus and viper. We used sequences specific to the Xenopus/viper NT-4 to isolate a neurotrophin from both human and rat genomic DNA that appears to represent the mammalian counterpart of Xenopus/viper NT-4. Human NT-4 as well as a human NT-4 pseudogene colocalize to chromosome 19 band q13.3. Mammalian NT-4 has many unusual features compared to the previously identified neurotrophins and is less conserved evolutionarily than the other neurotrophins. However, mammalian NT-4 displays bioactivity and trk receptor specificity similar to that of Xenopus NT-4.

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  1. PNAS April 1, 1992 vol. 89 no. 7 3060-3064
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