Mouse GFR alpha-3/GDNF R alpha-3 Alexa Fluor™ Plus 680-conjugated Antibody

Mouse glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) family receptor alpha 3 (GFR alpha-3) is a member of the GDNF family of receptors. It is one of four known members, all of which contain three conserved cysteine repeats (1, 3, 4). It is synthesized as a 397 aa precursor, with a hydrophobic signal sequence of 28 aa, a 343 aa mature segment, and a propeptide segment of 26 aa that is removed in the mature protein. The mature globular membrane glycoprotein has an approximate molecular weight of 50 kDa (5), contains three potential N-linked glycosylation sites, and a hydrophobic stretch of residues at its COOH terminus that comprises a GPI linkage sequence (2, 3, 5). Mouse GFR alpha-3 shares 81% aa sequence identity with human GFR alpha-3. High-level expression of GFR alpha-3 is observed only during early stages of neurogenesis in the central nervous system and in developing and adult peripheral nerves, organs, and ganglia (2, 3, 5, 7). The expression and proportions of GFR alpha-3 are closely linked to those of the Ret receptor tyrosine kinase, particularly in the trigeminal ganglion, pituitary gland, thymus, lung, and duodenum (3). GFR alpha-3 associates with Ret to form the receptor complex for the GDNF family ligand artemin, which, in turn, activates the complex (1, 6, 7). The activated complex’s signal is required for the development and maintenance of superior cervical ganglion (SCG), specifically the rostral migration of SCG precursors between embryonic days 11.5 and 14.5, and the survival of SCG neurons after birth (8).