Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and neurturin (NTN) are two structurally related, potent neurotrophic factors that play key roles in the control of neuron survival and differentiation. The protein encoded by this gene is a member of the GDNF receptor family. It is a glycosylphosphatidylinositol(GPI)-linked cell surface receptor for both GDNF and NTN, and mediates activation of the RET tyrosine kinase receptor. This gene is a candidate gene for Hirschsprung disease. Multiple alternatively spliced transcript variants have been described for this gene. [provided by RefSeq]
Function: Receptor for GDNF. Mediates the GDNF-induced autophosphorylation and activation of the RET receptor.
Subunit: 2 molecules of GDNFR-alpha are thought to form a complex with the disulfide-linked GDNF dimer and with 2 molecules of RET.