BDNF

BDNF is a member of the nerve growth factor family. It is highly expressed in hippocampus, amygdala, cerebral cortex and cerebellum. It also can be detected in heart, lung, skeletal muscle, testis, prostate and placenta. BDNF is induced by cortical neurons, and is necessary for survival of striatal neurons in the brain. During development, BDNF promotes the survival and differentiation of selected neuronal populations of the peripheral and central nervous systems. It participates in axonal growth, pathfinding and in the modulation of dendritic growth and morphology. It functions as the major regulator of synaptic transmission and plasticity at adult synapses in many regions of the CNS. The versatility of BDNF is emphasized by its contribution to a range of adaptive neuronal responses including long-term potentiation (LTP), long-term depression (LTD), certain forms of short-term synaptic plasticity, as well as homeostatic regulation of intrinsic neuronal excitability.

BDNF Related Areas

Neuroscience>>Neurotrophic Factor & Receptor>>Neurotrophin & Receptor>>BDNF

Cancer>>Growth Factor & Receptor>> Neurotrophin & Receptor>>BDNF

BDNF Alternative Names

ANON2, BULN2, MGC34632, abrineurin, neurotrophin [Homo sapiens]

RP23-393E8.1, anorexia BDNF, brain-derived neurotrophic factor [Mus musculus]

Summaries for BDNF

Entrez Gene summary for BDNF:

The protein encoded by this BDNF gene is a member of the nerve growth factor family. BDNF is induced by cortical neurons, and is necessary for survival of striatal neurons in the brain. Expression of this BDNF gene is reduced in both Alzheimer's and Huntington disease patients. This gene may play a role in the regulation of stress response and in the biology of mood disorders. Multiple transcript variants encoding distinct isoforms have been described for this gene. [provided by RefSeq, Jan 2009]

OMIM - description for BDNF:

BDNF is a prosurvival factor induced by cortical neurons that is necessary for survival of striatal neurons in the brain (Zuccato et al., 2001). For background information on neurotrophins and their receptors, see NGFR (162010).

Wikipedia summary for BDNF:

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor, also known as BDNF, is a secreted protein[2] that, in humans, is encoded by the BDNF gene. BDNF is a member of the "neurotrophin" family of growth factors, which are related to the canonical "Nerve Growth Factor", NGF. Neurotrophic factors are found in the brain and the periphery.

Human BDNF Protein General Information

 

• Protein names: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor, Short name=BDNF
• Sequence length: 247 AA.
• Sequence similarities: BDNF belongs to the NGF-beta family.
• Post-translational modification: The propeptide is N-glycosylated and glycosulfated. Converted into mature BDNF by plasmin (PLG)
• Subunit structure: Monomers and homodimers. Binds to NTRK2/TRKB.
• Subcellular location: Secreted.
• Tissue specificity: Brain. BDNF is highly expressed in hippocampus, amygdala, cerebral cortex and cerebellum. BDNF is also expressed in heart, lung, skeletal muscle, testis, prostate and placenta.
• Polymorphism: Variations in BDNF are associated with susceptibility to bulimia nervosa 2 (BULN2) [MIM:610269]. Several genes with an essential role in the regulation of eating behavior and body weight are considered candidates involved in the etiology of eating disorders (ED), but no relevant susceptibility genes with a major effect on anorexia nervosa (AN) or bulimia nervosa (BN) have been identified. BDNF has been implicated in the regulation of food intake and body weight in rodents. A strong association has been reported of the Met-66 allele of the Val-66-Met BDNF variant with restricting AN (ANR) and low minimum body mass index in Spanish patients. Met-66 variant is strongly associated to all ED subtypes (AN, ANR, binge-eating/purging AN and BN) in European patients. Another single nucleotide polymorphism located in the promoter region of the BDNF gene showed an effect on BN and late age at onset of weight loss. These are two variants associated with the pathophysiology of ED in different populations. These variants support a role for BDNF in the susceptibility to aberrant eating behaviors.
• Involvement in disease: Defects in BDNF are a cause of congenital central hypoventilation syndrome (CCHS) [MIM:209880]; also known as congenital failure of autonomic control or Ondine curse. CCHS is a rare disorder characterized by abnormal control of respiration in the absence of neuromuscular or lung disease, or an identifiable brain stem lesion. A deficiency in autonomic control of respiration results in inadequate or negligible ventilatory and arousal responses to hypercapnia and hypoxemia. CCHS is frequently complicated with neurocristopathies such as Hirschsprung disease that occurs in about 16% of CCHS cases.

General information above from UniProt

Function for BDNF Protein

UniProtKB:

During development, BDNF promotes the survival and differentiation of selected neuronal populations of the peripheral and central nervous systems. BDNF participates in axonal growth, pathfinding and in the modulation of dendritic growth and morphology. BDNF is major regulator of synaptic transmission and plasticity at adult synapses in many regions of the CNS. The versatility of BDNF is emphasized by its contribution to a range of adaptive neuronal responses including long-term potentiation (LTP), long-term depression (LTD), certain forms of short-term synaptic plasticity, as well as homeostatic regulation of intrinsic neuronal excitability.

Genatlas:

• BDNF promotes the survival of neuronal cells located in the central nervous system or directly connected to it
• BDNF supports populations of sensory neurons via NRTK2 or NRTK3 signaling
• BDNF is involved in memory and hippocampal function
• BDNF may be playing a role in the regulation and modulation of oocyte maturation
• BDNF is a crucial signaling molecule between microglia and neurons
• BDNF promotes the activation of CFL1 by reducing the phosphorylation of CFL1
• BDNF is involved in neurite outgrowth, early neuronal cell development, neuropeptide signaling/synthesis and neuronal receptor (Tondreau 2008)
• BDNF regulates retinal growth cone filopodial dynamics through actin depolymerizing factor/cofilin CFL1
• BDNF plays a role in energy homeostasis, as well as in cognitive function, memory, and behavior
• BDNF plays a pivotal role in brain development and synaptic plasticity (Wu 2010)
• BDNF is essential in promoting normal development of the central nervous system
• BDNF and NTRK2 play important roles in controlling respiration, movement, balance and feeding in the brainstem and that the NTRK2 is the most age-sensitive component of this system, especially in the hippocampus

Homology for human BDNF

• homolog to murine Bdnf

Phenotype Information for BDNF

• Gene/Locus: BDNF, BULN2, ANON2
• Phenotype: Central hypoventilation syndrome, congenital
  {Anorexia nervosa, susceptibility to}
  {Bulimia nervosa, age of onset of weight loss in}
  {Memory impairment, susceptibility to}
  {Obsessive-compulsive disorder, protection against}

Phenotype Information for BDNF from OMIM (Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man)