The precursor form of the nerve growth factor (proNGF) like its mature form is characterized by the cystin knot motif consisting of three cystine bridges, whereas proneurotrophins and mature neurotrophins elicit opposite biological effects. ProNGF functions preferentially via the complex of pan-neurotrophin receptor p75 (p75NTR) and vps10p domain-containing receptor sortilin inducing neuronal apoptosis and contributing to age- and disease-related neurodegeneration.
NGF is the first member discovered in the Neurotrophin family, which includes brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurotrophin-3 (NT-3), and neurotrophin-4 (NT-4). These proteins belong to the cysteine-knot family of growth factors that assume stable dimeric structures. Mouse beta -NGF is a homodimer of two 120 amino acid polypeptides. It shares approximately 90% homology at the amino acid level with human beta -NGF and 95.8% with rat beta -NGF. NGF signaling has been shown to play an important role in neuroprotection and repair. β-NGF acts as a growth and differentiation factor for B lymphocytes, and enhances B-cell survival. It is a potent neurotrophic factor that signals through its receptor β-NGFR, and plays a crucial role in the development and preservation of the sensory and sympathetic nervous systems.
NGFProtein, Human, Recombinant (HEK293) is expressed in HEK293 mammalian cells. The predicted molecular weight is 24.8 kDa. and the accession number is P01138.