GDNF triggers a novel ret-independent Src kinase family-coupled signaling via a GPI-linked GDNF receptor alpha1

FEBS Lett. 1999 Dec 10;463(1-2):63-6. doi: 10.1016/s0014-5793(99)01590-2.

Abstract

Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) has potentially great clinical importance in the treatment of Parkinson's disease and several other neurodegenerative diseases, however its intracellular signaling mechanisms are poorly understood. Here we show that upon GDNF binding glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol (GPI)-linked GDNF receptor alpha1 (GFRalpha1) activates cytoplasmic Src family tyrosine kinase(s) in Ret tyrosine kinase-deficient cultured mouse dorsal root ganglion neurons and in two Ret-negative cell lines. GFRalpha1-mediated Src-type kinase activation subsequently triggers phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase, cAMP response element binding protein and phospholipase Cgamma. We therefore conclude that GDNF can activate intracellular signaling pathways Ret-independently via GPI-linked GFRalpha1.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 3T3 Cells
  • Animals
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein / metabolism
  • Drosophila Proteins*
  • Enzyme Activation / drug effects
  • Ganglia, Spinal / metabolism
  • Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
  • Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Receptors
  • Humans
  • Isoenzymes / metabolism
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System / drug effects
  • Mice
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism
  • Nerve Growth Factors*
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / pharmacology*
  • Phospholipase C gamma
  • Phosphorylation / drug effects
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / metabolism*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / metabolism*
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects*
  • Time Factors
  • Transfection
  • Type C Phospholipases / metabolism
  • src-Family Kinases / metabolism*

Substances

  • Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein
  • Drosophila Proteins
  • GDNF protein, human
  • GFRA1 protein, human
  • Gdnf protein, mouse
  • Gfra1 protein, mouse
  • Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
  • Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Receptors
  • Isoenzymes
  • Nerve Growth Factors
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • Ret protein, Drosophila
  • Ret protein, mouse
  • src-Family Kinases
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
  • Type C Phospholipases
  • Phospholipase C gamma