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PROSITE documentation PDOC00221 [for PROSITE entry PS50270] |
Nerve growth factor (NGF or β-NGF) is a vertebrate protein that stimulates division and differentiation of sympathetic and embryonic sensory neurons [1,2]. NGF is a protein of about 120 residues that is cleaved from a larger precursor molecule. It contains six cysteines all involved in intrachain disulfide bonds. A schematic representation of the structure of NGF is shown below:
+------------------------+ | | | ******* | xxxxxxCxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxCxxxxCxxxxxCxxxxxxxxxxxxxCxCxxxx | | | | +--------------------------|-----+ | +---------------------+
'C': conserved cysteine involved in a disulfide bond. '*': position of the pattern.
Some proteins have been found [3] to be structurally and functionally related to NGF, these are:
The pattern we have developed for the NGF family spans the central region of these proteins and include two of the six cysteines involved in disulfide bonds.
Last update:April 2006 / Pattern revised.
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PROSITE methods (with tools and information) covered by this documentation:
1 | Authors | Levi-Montalcini R. |
Source | Science 237:1154-1162(1987). |
2 | Authors | Bradshaw R.A. Blundell T.L. Lapatto R. McDonald N.Q. Murray-Rust J. |
Title | Nerve growth factor revisited. | |
Source | Trends Biochem. Sci. 18:48-52(1993). | |
PubMed ID | 8488558 |
3 | Authors | Lo D.C. |
Title | NGF takes shape. | |
Source | Curr. Biol. 2:67-69(1992). | |
PubMed ID | 15335999 |