No subject

AU  - Zhou J
Holtzman DM, Weiner RI, Mobley WC (1994)
Expression of TrkA confers neuron-like responsiveness to nerve growth
factor on an immortalized hypothalamic cell line.
PNAS 91(9):3824-3828
ABSTRACT: The result of nerve growth factor (NGF) actions depends upon the
      cells in which it signals. To define how signaling is influenced by
      cellular context, it would be useful to examine cells committed to
      different fates or cells of a single type at different developmental
      stages. Interest in NGF actions on neurons of the central nervous
      system led us to examine GT1-1 cells, an immortalized hypothalamic
      cell line. GT1-1 cells demonstrated neuronal properties but were
      unresponsive to NGF and other neurotrophins. Through transfection,
      trkA expression conferred NGF signaling leading to enhanced neuronal
      differentiation, including dose-dependent induction of neurite
      outgrowth and a rapid transient increase in c-fos and NGFI-A mRNA.
      Under serum-free culture conditions, NGF also delayed cell death.
      These findings suggest that trkA transfection of neurons and
      neuronal precursors can be used to better define NGF signaling.
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Steve Matheson                      sfm at neurobio.arizona.edu
"...lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel."  --Proverbs