BDNF (R129A, R130A mutant; mouse, recombinant)

BDNF is a neurotrophin that is involved in synaptic plasticity and the growth, proliferation, and survival of neurons.^1,2 It is synthesized as a precursor protein composed of a signal peptide, a prodomain, and mature BDNF sequence, which is secreted from neurons after cleavage of the proprotein.¹ Incorporation of R129A and R130A mutations into Bdnf removes the dibasic amino acid motif that is required for processing of proBdnf to mature Bdnf.³ Bdnf is expressed in several brain regions to varying degrees with the highest levels in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex.⁴ BDNF homodimerizes and induces neurotropic signaling through tropomyosin-related kinase B (TrkB) and the p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75^NTR).^1,5 BDNF increases the proliferation of choriocarcinoma cells in vitro.⁵ It also induces long-term potentiation (LTP) in rat hippocampus.⁶ Knockout of Bdnf decreases coordination and balance and sensory neuronal survival in mice.⁷ Serum levels of BDNF are decreased in patients with depression or schizophrenia and brain expression of BDNF mRNA is decreased in patients with Alzheimer’s disease.² Cayman’s BDNF (R129A, R140A mutant; mouse, recombinant) protein consists of 242 amino acids, has a calculated molecular weight of 27.4 kDa, and a predicted N-terminus of Ala19 after signal peptide cleavage. By SDS-PAGE, the apparent molecular mass of the protein is 37 kDa due to glycosylation.

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7. Ernfors, P., Lee, K.-F., and Jaenisch, R. Mice lacking brain-derived neurotrophic factor develop with sensory deficits. Nature 368(6467), 147-150 (1994).