Alun M. Davies

TL;DR: Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), originally identified as a trophic factor specific for dopaminergic neurons, was found to be 75-fold more potent than the neurotrophins in supporting the survival of purified embryonic rat motoneurons in culture and to be a good candidate for treatment of motoneuron disease.

TL;DR: It is demonstrated that physiological responses to GDNF require the presence of a novel glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol (GPI)-linked protein (designated GDNFR-α) that is expressed on GDNF-responsive cells and binds GDNF with a high affinity, which supports the hypothesis that GDNF uses a multi-subunit receptor system in which GDN FR-α and Ret function as the ligand-binding and signalling components.

TL;DR: Findings indicate that at least two death pathways operate in neurons that are distinguished by their susceptibility to bcl-2, and that Neurons may die by either pathway, depending on the factors to which they have been exposed.

TL;DR: Findings support the idea that GFRalpha1 and the transmembrane tyrosine kinase Ret are both necessary receptor components for GDNF in the developing kidney and nervous system, and that GDNF and neurturin can mediate some of their activities through a second receptor.

TL;DR: It is shown that nerve growth factor (NGF) synthesis in developing skin begins with sensory innervation and that sensory neurons do not express NGF receptors until their fibres reach their cutaneous targets.