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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 28, 2026

Characterization of G Protein-coupled Receptors by a Fluorescence-based Calcium Mobilization Assay

Characterization of G Protein-coupled Receptors by a Fluorescence-based Calcium Mobilization Assay

Published on: July 28, 2014

Characterization of a multicomponent receptor for GDNF

J J Treanor¹, L Goodman, F de Sauvage

¹Department of Neuroscience, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California 94080, USA.

|July 4, 1996

Summary

Glial-cell-line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) requires a novel protein, GDNFR-alpha, for its effects. This protein forms a complex with the Ret receptor, initiating signaling pathways crucial for neuronal survival and development.

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Last Updated: Jul 28, 2026

Characterization of G Protein-coupled Receptors by a Fluorescence-based Calcium Mobilization Assay

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Published on: July 28, 2014

Detection of Ligand-activated G Protein-coupled Receptor Internalization by Confocal Microscopy

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Published on: April 9, 2017

Visualizing the Conformational Dynamics of Membrane Receptors Using Single-Molecule FRET

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Published on: August 17, 2022

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Cell Biology
Molecular Biology

Background:

Glial-cell-line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) is vital for neuronal survival and development.
The precise mechanism of GDNF action remained largely unknown.
GDNF plays critical roles in the central and peripheral nervous systems, as well as kidney and enteric nervous system development.

Purpose of the Study:

To elucidate the molecular mechanism underlying Glial-cell-line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) signaling.
To identify the receptor components involved in GDNF-mediated physiological responses.

Main Methods:

Characterization of Glial-cell-line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) binding interactions.
Investigation of the role of a novel glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol (GPI)-linked protein (GDNFR-alpha) in GDNF signaling.
Analysis of the physical association between GDNFR-alpha and the Ret receptor tyrosine kinase.

Main Results:

A novel glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol (GPI)-linked protein, GDNFR-alpha, was identified as a high-affinity Glial-cell-line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) binding protein.
GDNFR-alpha is expressed on cells responsive to GDNF.
Glial-cell-line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) induces the formation of a complex between GDNFR-alpha and the orphan tyrosine kinase receptor Ret, leading to Ret tyrosine phosphorylation.

Conclusions:

Glial-cell-line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) utilizes a multi-subunit receptor complex for its signaling.
GDNFR-alpha acts as the ligand-binding component, while the Ret receptor functions as the signal-transducing component.