# STRUCTURE & FUNCTION OF NERVE GROWTH FACTOR

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-IRVINE · 1992 · $215,453

## Abstract

Two major lines of experimentation on nerve growth factor (NGF) will be
pursued.  The first deals with the biosynthesis, processing and release of
the hormone, including structural features of the neuronally active
Beta-subunit and associated polypeptides.  The NGF from four different
species will be examined with the most detailed studies focused on the
guinea pig prostate (gp) molecule.  The gp BetaNGF will be further
characterized with respect to the C-terminal sequence and the high
molecular weight form examined with respect to the number and kinds of
subunits.  Using mouse BetaNGF cDNA probe, the corresponding gp mRNA will
be identified, cloned and sequenced.  The gp preproBetaNGF cDNA will be
incorporated into the overproducing vector pAS1 and cloned into E. coli to
allow the expression of preparative amounts of the precursor.  This
molecule will be purified to homogeneity and used as substrate to detect
potential processing agents (proteases) found in both the soluble and
membraneous fractions of prostate cells.  Synthetic prepro and proBetaNGF
will be crystallized to determine the 3-dimensional structure by x-ray
crystallography.  Bovine seminal plasma NGF and C. adamanteus NGF will be
isolated  and characterized with respect to their C-terminal sequences and
their associated polypeptides.  Finally, the Alpha- and Gamma-subunits of
mouse submandibular NGF will be deglycosylated and electrophoretically
homogeneous forms crystallized for x-ray defraction analysis.  Northern
blot analyses using synthetic oligonucleotides as well as full length cDNA
probes will be used to detect mRNA for the Alpha and Gamma-subunits in a
variety of mouse tissues using the BetaNGF cDNA probe as a control.  The
second main area of study involves the functional aspects of NGF and will
deal with both cell surface and nuclear receptors in peripheral neurons and
in cultured cells (melanoma and neuroblastoma).  The anti-receptor
monoclonal antibody already established will be further characterized and
new monoclonal antibodies raised to both the surface and nuclear
receptors.  The surface receptors of neuroblastoma and melanoma cells
isolated, characterized and compared to that of sympathetic and sensory
neurons, particularly with respect to tyrosine-specific kinase activity.
The receptor for human NGF will be cloned using NGF receptor-less mutants
of pheohromocytoma cells.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3121623
- **Project number:** 5R01AG009735-11
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-IRVINE
- **SAM.gov UEI:** MJC5FCYQTPE6
- **Principal Investigator:** RALPH A BRADSHAW
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1992
- **Award amount:** $215,453
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1982-09-01 → 1995-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3121623

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3121623, STRUCTURE & FUNCTION OF NERVE GROWTH FACTOR (5R01AG009735-11). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3121623. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*