Abstract
Neurotrophins are a unique family of polypeptide growth factors that influence the proliferation, differentiation, survival and death of neuronal and non-neuronal cells. Nerve growth factor (NGF), brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), NT-3, and NT-4 also mediate additional higher order activities, such as learning, memory and behavior, in addition to their established functions for cell survival. The effects of neurotrophins depend upon their levels of availability, their affinity of binding to transmembrane receptors and the downstream signaling cascades that are stimulated after receptor activation. Alterations in neurotrophin levels have been implicated in neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer disease and Huntington’s disease, and as well as psychiatric disorders such as depression and substance abuse. Difficulties in administering trophic factors have led to the consideration of using small molecules, such as G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) ligands, which can participate in transactivation events.
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