Glial Cell Line Derived Neurotrophic Factor Receptor Alpha 4 (GFRa4)

GFRa4 is a member of the GDNF receptor family. It is a glycosylphosphatidylinositol(GPI)-linked cell surface receptor for persephin, and mediates activation of the RET tyrosine kinase receptor. This gene is a candidate gene for RET-associated diseases. Alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been described for this gene. GFRalpha-4 is substantially different in sequence from all known GFRalphas, including chicken GFRalpha-4, and lacks the first cysteine-rich domain present in all previously characterized GFRalphas. At least two different GFRalpha-4 splice variants exist in rat tissues, differing at their respective COOH termini. GFRalpha-4 mRNA is expressed at low levels in different brain areas in the adult as well as in some peripheral tissues including testis and heart.