GFR-alpha-3

GFRα-3 (GFRA3) is the co-receptor with the strongest preference for artemin among the GDNF-family ligands. It is expressed predominantly in sympathetic ganglia and in nociceptive sensory neurons of dorsal root and trigeminal ganglia, with little presence in the central nervous system. GFRA3/RET signaling supports sympathetic neuron survival and modulates nociceptor responses; Gfra3-knockout mice show attenuated nerve-injury-induced pain behaviors, making the artemin-GFRα3 axis a target of interest for neuropathic pain therapy. GFRA3 has also been proposed as a co-factor in certain cancers. Recombinant GFRα-3 is used for artemin binding studies, pain research models and GDNF-family ligand selectivity characterization.