Bcakground Glial Cell Line-derived Neurotrophic Factor (GDNF)is a neurotrophic factor that has been shown to promote the survival of various neuronal subpopulations in both the central as well as the peripheral nervous systems at different stages of their development. Neuronal subpopulations that have been shown to be affected by GDNF include motoneurons, midbrain dopaminergic neurons, Purkinje cells and sympathetic neurons.Native GDNF, a disulfide-linked homodimeric glycoprotein, is a novel member of the TGF-beta superfamily. Human GDNF cDNA encodes a 211 amino acid residue prepropeptide that is processed to yield a dimeric protein. Mature human GDNF was predicted to contain two 134 amino acid residue subunits. NS0 expressed mature human GDNF lacks 31 residues from the amino-terminus of the predicted sequence. This glycosylated recombinant mature human GDNF still contains the seven conserved Cys residues found in all members of the TGF-beta superfamily and is biologically active. The GDNF sequence contains two potential glycosylation sites and insect cell-expressed recombinant rat GDNF proteins are glycosylated. Mature rat and human GDNF exhibit approximately 93% amino acid sequence identity and show considerable species cross-reactivity. Cells known to express GDNF include Sertoli cells, type 1 astrocytes, Schwann cells, neurons, pinealocytes and skeletal muscle cells. Reference 1. Oppenheim RW, et al. (1995) Nature. 373 (6512): 344-6. 2. Tomac A, et al. (1995) Nature. 373 (6512): 335-9. 3. Schindelhauer D, et al. (1996) Genomics. 28 (3): 605-7. Specifications Synonyms GDNF;ATF; ATF1; ATF2; glial cell derived neurotrophic factor; HFB1-GDNF; HGDNF; HSCR3 Accession # P39905 Source Human embryonic kidney cell, HEK293-derived human GDNF protein Arg109-Ile211 Predicted Moleucular weight 11.6 kDa (monomer) Form/Structure Dimer in solution Components and Storage Formulation Solution protein Dissolved in sterile PBS buffer. This solution can be diluted into other aqueous buffers. Centrifuge the vial prior to opening. Storage and Stability Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles. It is recommended that the protein be aliquoted for optimal storage. 12 months from date of receipt, -20 to -70 °C as supplied. Shipping Shipping with dry ice Quality Purity > 95%, determined by SDS-PAGE. Endotoxin Level