GDNF, human: Glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor, also known as GDNF is a small protein that potently promotes the survival of various neuronal subpopulations in both the central as well as the peripheral nervous systems at different stages of their development.
In addition, GDNF is a founding member of the GDNF family of ligands (GFL) and has been shown to interact with GFRA2 and GDNF family receptor alpha 1.
GDNF (monomer) contains seven conserved cysteine residues, one of which (Cys 101) is used for inter-chain disulfide bridging and the others are involved in intramolecular ring formation known as the cysteine knot configuration.