This cysteine rich domain is found in multiple copies in GNDF and GAS1 proteins. GDNF and neurturin (NTN) receptors are potent survival factors for sympathetic, sensory and central nervous system neurons [2]. GDNF and neurturin promote neuronal survival by signaling through similar multicomponent receptors that consist of a common receptor tyrosine kinase and a member of a GPI-linked family of receptors that determines ligand specificity [3].

1: GFRalpha3 is an orphan member of the GDNF/neurturin/persephin receptor family. Baloh RH, Gorodinsky A, Golden JP, Tansey MG, Keck CL, Popescu NC, Johnson EM Jr, Milbrandt J; Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 1998;95:5801-5806. PMID:9576965

2: A GPI-linked protein that interacts with Ret to form a candidate neurturin receptor [published erratum appears in Nature 1998 Mar 12;392(6672):210] Klein RD, Sherman D, Ho WH, Stone D, Bennett GL, Moffat B, Vandlen R, Simmons L, Gu Q, Hongo JA, Devaux B, Poulsen K, Armanini M, Nozaki C, Asai N, Goddard A, Phillips H, Henderson CE, Takahashi M, Rosenthal A; Nature 1997;387:717-721. PMID:9192898

3: Neurturin responsiveness requires a GPI-linked receptor and the Ret receptor tyrosine kinase. Buj-Bello A, Adu J, Pinon LG, Horton A, Thompson J, Rosenthal A, Chinchetru M, Buchman VL, Davies AM; Nature 1997;387:721-724. PMID:9192899

4: GAS1 is related to the GDNF family receptors alpha and regulates ret signaling. Cabrera JR, Sanchez-Pulido L, Rojas AM, Valencia A, Manes S, Naranjo JR, Mellstrom B; J Biol Chem. 2006; [Epub ahead of print] PMID:16551639