NGFR
Description
The NGFR (nerve growth factor receptor) is a protein-coding gene located on chromosome 17.
NGFR, also known as p75NTR, is a low-affinity neurotrophin receptor that binds all neurotrophins, including nerve growth factor, neurotrophin-3, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and neurotrophin-4. It is a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily, and is involved in pathways that promote neuronal survival and neuronal death. NGFR is an unusual member of the TNFR family due to its propensity to dimerize rather than trimerize, its ability to act as a tyrosine kinase co-receptor, and the fact that the neurotrophins are structurally unrelated to the ligands that typically bind TNFR family members.
NGFR is a low affinity receptor that binds to nerve growth factor (NGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurotrophin-3 (NTF3), and neurotrophin-4 (NTF4). It forms a heterodimer with SORCS2 that binds the precursor forms of NGF, BDNF and NTF3 with high affinity, and has much lower affinity for mature NGF and BDNF. NGFR plays a role in the differentiation and survival of specific neuronal populations during development, and can mediate cell survival as well as cell death of neural cells. It is involved in the inactivation of RHOA, and regulates the translocation of GLUT4 to the cell surface in adipocytes and skeletal muscle cells in response to insulin. NGFR is necessary for the circadian oscillation of clock genes in the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the brain and in the liver.
NGFR is also known as CD271, Gp80-LNGFR, TNFRSF16, p75(NTR), p75NTR.
