Neurotrophin-4 (NT-4) is a small secreted cytokine, and belongs to the Neurotrophin (NT) family, which also includes Brain Derived Neurotropic Factor (BDNF), Nerve Growth Factor (NGF), and NT-3. NT family members are all derived from similar sized protein precursors, composed of N-terminal propeptides and C-terminal mature domains, which are separated by posttranslational proteolytic cleavage. NT-4 (along with NT-3) is foundin the brains of mammals . In vivo, NT-4 binds to the common receptor, p75NTR, and a tyrosine kinase receptor, TrkB. The heterotrimeric complex activates the NFκB transcription factor. NT-4 is essential for the differentiation and wiring regulation of the central and peripheral nervous systems during development, and is related to important diseases including Alzheimer’s.
Recombinant mouse Neurotrophin-4 (rmNT-4) produced in E. coli is a noncovalently linked homodimer containing two non-glycosylated polypeptide chainsof 131 amino acids. A fully biologically active molecule, rmNT-4 has a molecular mass of 14.0kDaanalyzed by reducing SDS-PAGE and is obtained by proprietary chromatographic techniques at ExCell Bio.