Recombinant Human GFR alpha-3 Fc Chimera (CHO-expressed), CF

Recombinant Human GFR alpha-3 Fc Chimera (CHO-expressed), CF Summary

Product Specifications

Product Datasheets

Carrier Free

CF stands for Carrier Free (CF). We typically add Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) as a carrier protein to our recombinant proteins. Adding a carrier protein enhances protein stability, increases shelf-life, and allows the recombinant protein to be stored at a more dilute concentration. The carrier free version does not contain BSA.

In general, we advise purchasing the recombinant protein with BSA for use in cell or tissue culture, or as an ELISA standard. In contrast, the carrier free protein is recommended for applications, in which the presence of BSA could interfere.

Background: GFR alpha-3/GDNF R alpha-3

Human glial cell line‑derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) family receptor alpha 3 (GFR alpha ‑3, GDNF R‑ alpha 3) is an approximately 50 kDa plasma membrane glycoprotein that is one of four GDNF receptors, all of which are glycosylphosphoinositol (GPI)‑anchored, contain three conserved cysteine repeats, and promote survival of neurons (1 ‑ 4). It is synthesized as a 400 aa precursor with a 31 aa N‑terminal signal sequence, a 343 aa mature segment, and a C‑terminal GPI attachment signal sequence (3 ‑ 5). Human GFR alpha ‑3 shares 81 ‑ 84% aa sequence identity with mouse, rat, equine, bovine and canine GFR alpha ‑3. GFR alpha ‑3 is expressed in the central nervous system only during the earliest stages of neurogenesis, while later it is predominantly found in developing and adult nociceptive sensory neurons (2, 4 ‑ 8). It is expressed with the shared GDNF coreceptor, the Ret receptor tyrosine kinase, in the trigeminal ganglion, pituitary gland, thymus, lung, and duodenum (2, 4). Its ligand, the GDNF family ligand artemin, is primarily expressed by immature Schwann cells in the peripheral nervous system, and vascular smooth muscle cells, directing axonal projection of sympathetic neurons (6, 7). Artemin first binds GFR alpha ‑3, which recruits Ret, forming a signaling complex that is a pentamer containing one artemin, two GFR‑ alpha 3, and two Ret molecules (1, 6, 9). Signals from this complex are required for the development and survival of the superior cervical ganglion (SCG) neurons, and deletion of mouse GFR alpha ‑3 results in deficits in the SCG and inhibited development of intestinal Peyer’s patches (6, 7, 10, 11).

Related Research Areas

• GDNF Family