Persephin
| persephin | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Identifiers | |||||||
| Symbol | PSPN | ||||||
Chr. 19 p13.3 | |||||||
| |||||||
Persephin is a
neurotrophic factor in the glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) family. Persephin shares around a 40% similarity in amino acid sequence compared to GDNF and neurturin, two members of the GDNF family.[1]
Function
Persephin has been found to be less potent than other members of the
GDNF and neurturin.[2] The mRNA levels of persephin in developing neurons has been low compared to other neurotrophic factors, but relatively higher levels of persephin mRNA have been found in embryonic neurons.[1]
Similarly to the other members of the GDNF family of ligands, persephin uses a receptor that consists of the tyrosine kinase signaling component Ret and a unit of glycosylphosphatidylinsitol (GPI)-anchored receptor (GFRα). Persephin specifically binds to GFRα4.[3]
Persephin acts on both neurons in the CNS and PNS, but also has the ability to act as a renal ramogen.[1]
Structure
Unlike other GDNF family of ligands, persephin only contains one RXXR cleavage site, rather than multiple, indicating that it can only make one length of functional peptide.[1]
Therapeutics
Persephin has the potential to be used as a therapeutic treatment for neurodegenerative diseases, such as
GDNF, it may produce fewer mechanism-based complications, making it a stronger therapeutic target.[1]
References
External links
- persephin at the U.S. National Library of Medicine Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)