Recombinant Human NT-3 (carrier-free)

Neurotrophins are growth factors that modulate growth, differentiation, and survival of neurons. Structure related proteins include neuron growth factor (NGF), brain derived neurogenic factor (BDNF), neurotrophin-3 (NT-3), and neurotrophin-4/5. They are highly homologous and share a similar structure of a tertiary folded, cysteine rich "knot". Neurotrophins are critical to the development of the central and peripheral nervous system and they play important roles in injury induced neuron regeneration. NT-3 is encoded by the the NTF3 gene and shares high similarity among species including human, pig, rat, and mouse. It is the only neurotrophin that affects the development of the enteric nervous system. NT-3 can act on neuroblast/progenitor cells directly or synergistically with other neurotrophins. It can regulate growth and maturation of neurons in both peripheral and central nervous systems. NT-3 elicits its activity mainly through activation of p75, tropomyosin-related kinase receptors (Trk), TrkB, and TrkC. NT-3 is the only ligand for TrkC and studies indicate that neuron generation in myenteric and submucosal plexuses is blocked in mice with deficiency in NT-3/TrkC signaling. The expression of NT-3 is regulated by bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2) and bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP-4). Although the NT-3-TrkC signal transduction is known to lead cellular apoptosis in the absence of ligand, overexpression of NT-3 conversely disrupts the tumor-preventive control and results in tumor generation. Dysregulation of NT-3 is known to be related with neuroblastoma, Alzhiemer's, Huntington's, and Parkinson's Disease. Due to the broad cell poplulations affected by NT-3, the control of NT-3-TrkC pathway has become a target for therapeutical approach for neurogenic diseases.