Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor (CNTF) is a polypeptide hormone and neurotrophic factor primarily involved in the nervous system. It promotes neurotransmitter synthesis and neurite outgrowth in certain neuronal populations, including astrocytes . The recombinant version of CNTF, particularly the rat recombinant with a His tag, is widely used in research to study its effects and potential therapeutic applications.
CNTF is a member of the cytokine family and is encoded by the CNTF gene. The protein is a potent survival factor for neurons and oligodendrocytes, which are crucial for the maintenance and repair of the nervous system . The His tag, a sequence of histidine residues, is added to the recombinant protein to facilitate its purification and detection.
CNTF has several biological activities, including:
The rat recombinant CNTF with a His tag is used in various research applications, including: