NT-3

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neurotrophin 3
Identifiers
Symbol	NTF3
HUGO	8023
Entrez	4908
OMIM	162660
RefSeq	NM_002527
UniProt	P20783
Other data
Locus	Chr. 12 p13

Neurotrophin-3, or NT-3 is a neurotrophic factor, in the NGF (Nerve Growth Factor)-family of neurotrophins. It is a protein growth factor which has activity on certain neurons of the peripheral and central nervous system; it helps to support the survival and differentiation of existing neurons, and encourages the growth and differentiation of new neurons and synapses. NT-3 was the third neurotrophic factor to be characterized, after nerve growth factor (NGF) and BDNF (Brain Derived Neurotrohic Factor).^[1]

1 Function
2 Mechanism of action
- 2.1 High affinity receptors
- 2.2 Low affinity receptors
3 References

[edit] Function

Although the vast majority of neurons in the mammalian brain are formed prenatally, parts of the adult brain retain the ability to grow new neurons from neural stem cells; a process known as neurogenesis. Neurotrophins are chemicals that help to stimulate and control neurogenesis.

NT-3 is unique in the number of neurons it can potentially stimulate, given its ability to activate two of the receptor tyrosine kinase neurotrophin receptors (TrkC and TrkB - see below).

Mice born without the ability to make NT-3 have loss of proprioceptive and subsets of mechanoreceptive sensory neurons.^[2]^[3]

[edit] Mechanism of action

NT-3 binds three receptors on the surface of cells which are capable of responding to this growth factor:

TrkC (pronounced "Track C"), is apparently the "physiologic" receptor, in that it binds with greatest affinity to NT-3.^[4]^[5]

However, NT-3 is capable of binding and signaling through a TrkC-related receptors called TrkB.

Finally, NT-3 also binds a second-receptor type besides Trk receptors, called the LNGFR (for "low affinity nerve growth factor receptor).

[edit] High affinity receptors

TrkC is a receptor tyrosine kinase (meaning it mediates its actions by causing the addition of phosphate molecules on certain tyrosines in the cell, activating cellular signaling).

As mentioned above, there are other related Trk receptors, TrkA and TrkB. Also as mentioned, there are other neurotrophic factors structurally related to NT-3:

NGF (for "Nerve Growth Factor")
BDNF (for "Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor")
NT-4 (for "Neurotrophin-4")

While TrkB mediates the effects of BDNF, NT-4, and NT-3, TrkA binds and is activated by NGF, and TrkC binds and is activated only by NT-3.

[edit] Low affinity receptors

The other NT-3 receptor, the LNGFR, plays a somewhat less clear role. Some researchers have shown the LNGFR binds and serves as a "sink" for neurotrophins.

Cells which express both the LNGFR and the Trk receptors might therefore have a greater activity - since they have a higher "microconcentration" of the neurotrophin.

It has also been shown, however, that the LNGFR may signal a cell to die via apoptosis - so therefore cells expressing the LNGFR in the absence of Trk receptors may die rather than live in the presence of a neurotrophin.

[edit] References

^ Maisonpierre P, Belluscio L, Squinto S, Ip N, Furth M, Lindsay R, Yancopoulos G (1990). "Neurotrophin-3: a neurotrophic factor related to NGF and BDNF". Science 247 (4949 Pt 1): 1446-51. PMID 2321006.
^ Tessarollo L, Vogel K, Palko M, Reid S, Parada L (1994). "Targeted mutation in the neurotrophin-3 gene results in loss of muscle sensory neurons". Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 91 (25): 11844-8. PMID 7991545.
^ Klein R, Silos-Santiago I, Smeyne R, Lira S, Brambilla R, Bryant S, Zhang L, Snider W, Barbacid M (1994). "Disruption of the neurotrophin-3 receptor gene trkC eliminates la muscle afferents and results in abnormal movements". Nature 368 (6468): 249-51. PMID 8145824.
^ Lamballe F, Klein R, Barbacid M (1991). "trkC, a new member of the trk family of tyrosine protein kinases, is a receptor for neurotrophin-3". Cell 66 (5): 967-79. PMID 1653651.
^ Tessarollo L, Tsoulfas P, Martin-Zanca D, Gilbert D, Jenkins N, Copeland N, Parada L (1993). "trkC, a receptor for neurotrophin-3, is widely expressed in the developing nervous system and in non-neuronal tissues". Development 118 (2): 463-75. PMID 8223273.