GDNF Family Receptor Alpha Like Protein (GFRaL)

GRAL is a distant homolog of the GFRalpha family, with 30% of its amino acid sequence identical to that of GFRalpha-3. In adult mouse, GRAL transcripts have been found primarily in the CNS. In the developing mouse brain, the mRNA level of GRAL in the cerebrocortex and hippocampus reached a maximum at birth and declined afterwards. GRAL-A protein was localized predominantly in the plasma membrane. Overexpression of GRAL-A protected PC12 cells and cultured hippocampal neurons from serum starvation-induced cell apoptosis.

The neuroprotective effect of GRAL was associated with marked inhibition of the Jun-N-terminal kinase signaling pathway. GRAL belongs to a superfamily of GFRalpha and might take part in neuroprotection and brain development.