Brain-type Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) is a nonglycosylated peptide that is produced predominantly by ventricular myocytes and belongs to the natriuretic peptide family. Proteolytic cleavage of the 12 kDa BNP precursor gives rise to N-terminal Pro‑BNP (NT-proBNP) and mature BNP. Plasma NT-proBNP is a marker for congestive heart failure, while mature BNP (aa 103‑134) promotes vasodilation […]

The neuregulin family of structurally related glycoproteins comprises products from four distinct but related genes, Nrg-1, Nrg-2, Nrg-3, and Nrg-4. All NRG1 isoforms contain an EGF-like domain that is required for their direct binding to the ErbB3 or ErbB4 receptor tyrosine kinases. The ErbB3 or ErbB4 subsequently recruits and heterodimerizes with ErbB2, resulting in tyrosine […]

Oncostatin-M (OSM) is a multifunctional cytokine that belongs to the Interleukin-6 subfamily. Among the family members, OSM is most closely related to leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) and it in fact utilizes the LIF receptor in addition to its specific receptor in the human. It has approximately 48 % and 72 % amino acid sequence identity […]

Persephin is a secreted protein belonging to the glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) family of the TGF-beta superfamily. It shares 38 – 46% amino acid (aa) identity with family members GDNF, neurturin and artemin. Persephin is expressed at very low levels in most tissues. The 156 aa, 10 – 12 kDa mature protein contains […]

Persephin is a secreted protein belonging to the glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) family of the TGF-beta superfamily. It shares 38 – 46% amino acid (aa) identity with family members GDNF, neurturin and artemin. Persephin is expressed at very low levels in most tissues. The 156 aa, 10 – 12 kDa mature protein contains […]

Neurotrophin-4 (NT-4), is a member of the NGF family of neuronal and epithelial growth factors. Neurotrophins have six conserved cysteine residues that are involved in the formation of three disulfide bonds.Mature human NT-4 shares 91% and 95% aa sequence identity with mouse and rat NT-4/5, respectively. The mature protein is secreted as a homodimer and […]

Oncostatin M (OSM) is a multifunctional cytokine that belongs to the Interleukin-6 subfamily. Among the family members, OSM is most closely related to leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) and it in fact utilizes the LIF receptor in addition to its specific receptor in the human. It has approximately 48 % and 72 % amino acid sequence […]

Oncostatin M (OSM) is a growth and differentiation factor that participates in the regulation of neurogenesis, osteogenesis and hematopoiesis. Produced by activated T cells, monocytes and Kaposi’s sarcoma cells, OSM can exert both stimulatory and inhibitory effects on cell proliferation. It stimulates the proliferation of fibroblasts, smooth muscle cells and Kaposi’s sarcoma cells, but inhibits […]

Neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) is a member of the NGF family of neurotrophic factors (also named neurotrophins) that are required for the differentiation and survival of specific neuronal subpopulations in both the central as well as the peripheral nervous systems. The NT-3 cDNA encodes a 257 amino acid residue precursor protein with a signal peptide and a […]

Neurturin is a member of the GDNF family of ligands, which include glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), Neurturin, Persephin, and Artemin. GDNF family proteins are distant members of the Transforming Growth Factor beta (TGF-beta ) superfamily. Similarly to other TGF-beta family proteins, Neurturin is synthesized as a precursor protein that is cleaved at the dibasic […]