User talk:Anders Lewisesquerre: Difference between revisions

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a 13kDa signaling protein belonging to the neurotrophin family of growth factors. This family of growth factors are critical in the development, differentiation, and survival of neurons. Mammalian members of the neurotrophin family of growth factors include Nerve growth factor (NGF) [structure link], neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) [structure link], and neurotrophin-4/5 (NT-4/5)[structure link]. BDNF is primarily expressed in the brain, where it is found in the hippocampus, cortex, amygdala, and striatum, and less so in the hypothalamus. BDNF is also expressed in peripheral tissues, such as the kidneys, retina, prostate, motor neurons, skeletal muscle.

Effects of the mammalian neurotrophin family of proteins are accomplished through activation of the tropomyosin-related kinase receptor family (TrkA, TrkB, and TrkC), and the p75 neurotrophin receptor, which is a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily. Binding to the p75 neurotrophin receptor leads to neurite outgrowth via Trk modulation, and activation of <scene name='10/1078788/Jnk/1'>c-jun N-terminal kinase</scene> (JNK), which leads to apoptosis. As a reference, the complex formed upon binding of Nerve growth factor (NGF) – a neurotrophin with close structural homology to BDNF – to the p75 receptor is <scene name='10/1078788/Ngf_and_p75_receptor/2'>shown</scene>, where NGF is shown in lime, and the p75 receptor is shown in fuchsia. BDNF binds to <scene name='10/1078788/Trkb_receptor/2'>tropomyosin receptor kinase B</scene> (TrkB), which results in activation of three different signaling cascades. These signaling pathways cause activation of CREB and CREB-binding protein (CBP), transcription factors which regulate expression of genes involved in neural plasticity, cell survival, and stress resistance.