The Trk family of nerve growth factor receptors includes Trk A(also referfed to as Trk A gp140),Trk B and Trk C. The prototype member of this gene family, Trk A, encodes a 140 kDa cell surface receptor , gp140, the expression of which is restricted in vivo to neurons of the sensory spinal and cranial gangliaof neurocrest origin. Nerve growth factor (NGF) stimulates tyrosine phosphorylation of Trk gp 140 in neural cell lines and in embryonic dorsal root ganglia. By comparison, BDNF and to a lesser extent, NT-3, but not NGF, can induce tyrosine phophorylayion of Trk B gp 145. The third member of the Trk receptor family, Trk C incodes a 140 kDa protein, Trk C gp140, that is preferentially expressed in brain tissue and primarily functions as a receptor for NT-3.An additional component of the Trk receptor complex, NGFR p175, binds to neurotrophic factors with low affinity but is required for efficient signaling. NGFR p175 accelerates Trk activation and may recruit downstream dffector molecules to the ligand-bound receptor complex.
