artemin; enovin; neublastin (ARTN, EVN)

Function

• ligand for GFR-alpha-3-RET receptor complex
• also activate the GFR-alpha-1-RET receptor complex
• supports survival of sensory & sympathetic peripheral neurons in culture
• supports survival of dopaminergic neurons of ventral mid-brain (substantia nigra)

Structure

• homodimer, disulfide-linked
• belongs to the TGF-beta family, GDNF subfamily

Compartment

secreted

Alternative splicing

named isoforms=3

Expression

• ubiquitous
• expressed in prostate, placenta, pancreas, heart, kidney, pituitary, lung, testis > brain
• expressed during embryogenesis
  • expression seen in fetal kidney, lung > fetal brain

More general terms

• secreted protein

Database

• OMIM: https://mirror.omim.org/entry/603886
• UniProt: http://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/Q5T4W7.html