BDNF Polyclonal Antibody, Cy3 Conjugated

Neurotrophins function to regulate naturally occurring cell death of neurons during development. The prototype neurotrophin is nerve growth factor (NGF), originally discovered in the 1950s as a soluble peptide promoting the survival of, and neurite outgrowth from, sympathetic ganglia. More recently, three additional structurally homologous neurotrophic factors have been identified. These include brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) and neurotrophin-4 (NT-4), also designated NT-5. These various neurotrophins stimulate the in vitro survival of distinct but partially overlapping populations of neurons. The Trk A receptor is the preferential receptor for NGF, but also binds NT-3 and NT-4. The Trk B receptor binds equally well to both BDNF and NT-4 and to a lesser extent NT-3, while the Trk C receptor only binds NT-3. BDNF promotes the survival of neuronal populations that are all located either in the central nervous system or directly connected to it. Belongs to the NGF-beta family.