GFRα3 is an orphan member of the GDNFeurturin/persephin receptor family

摘要

GDNF, neurturin, and persephin are trans- forming growth factor β-related neurotrophic factors known collectively as the GDNF family (GF). GDNF and neurturin signal through a multicomponent receptor complex contain- ing a signaling component (the Ret receptor tyrosine kinase) and either of two glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol-linked binding components (GDNF family receptor α components 1 and 2, GFRα1 or GFRα2), whereas the receptor for persephin is unknown. Herein we describe a third member of the GF coreceptor family called GFRα3 that is encoded by a gene located on human chromosome 5q31.2-32.