X-ray structure of glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor at 1.9 A resolution and implications for receptor binding

The crystal structure of glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) reveals two independent copies of the dimer that differ significantly through a hinge bending at the central, disulphide-rich region. GDNF is compared with other members of the TGF-beta family, and potential receptor binding surfaces are identified.