InterPro domain: IPR016017

This cysteine rich domain is found in multiple copies in GNDF and GAS1 proteins. GDNF and neurturin (NTN) receptors are potent survival factors for sympathetic, sensory and central nervous system neurons [ 1 , 2 ]. GDNF and neurturin promote neuronal survival by signalling through similar multicomponent receptors that consist of a common receptor tyrosine kinase and a member of a GPI-linked family of receptors that determines ligand specificity [ 3 ].

1. Gas1 is related to the glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor family receptors alpha and regulates Ret signaling. J. Biol. Chem. 281, 14330-9
2. Neurturin responsiveness requires a GPI-linked receptor and the Ret receptor tyrosine kinase. Nature 387, 721-4
3. A GPI-linked protein that interacts with Ret to form a candidate neurturin receptor. Nature 387, 717-21