Background
Glial cell line derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) Family Receptor Alpha 1 (GFRA1) is a member of the GDNF receptor family. It is a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-linked cell surface receptor for both GDNF and NTN, and mediates activation of the RET tyrosine kinase receptor. GFRA1 is a potent survival factor for central and peripheral neurons, and is essential for the development of kidneys and the enteric nervous system. Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and neurturin (NTN) are its binding ligand which are two structurally related, potent neurotrophic factors that play key roles in the control of neuron survival and differentiation. GDNF promotes the formation of a physical complex between GFRA/GDNFRa and the orphan tyrosin kinase receptor Ret, thereby inducing its tyrosine phosphorylation. The RET is a receptor tyrosine kinase representing the signal-transducing molecule of a multisubunit surface receptor complex for the GDNF, in which GFRA / GDNFRa acts as the ligand-binding component. GDNF, a distantly related member of the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-â) superfamily, and its receptor components: GFRA1, Ret and neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) have been recently reported to be expressed in the testis and to be involved in the proliferation regulation of immature Sertoli cells.
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