Cntf Gene Summary [Rat]

Enables ciliary neurotrophic factor receptor binding activity and cytokine activity. Involved in several processes, including membrane hyperpolarization; neurogenesis; and positive regulation of cell communication. Located in several cellular components, including glial cell projection; neuronal cell body; and plasma membrane bounded cell projection cytoplasm. Used to study Huntington's disease and glaucoma. Biomarker of hyperglycemia and retinitis pigmentosa. Human ortholog(s) of this gene implicated in Huntington's disease; disease of mental health; glaucoma; multiple sclerosis; and obesity. Orthologous to human CNTF (ciliary neurotrophic factor). [provided by Alliance of Genome Resources, Jul 2025]

Details

Type
Protein Coding
Official Symbol
Cntf
Official Name
ciliary neurotrophic factor [Source:RGD Symbol;Acc:2370]
Ensembl ID
ENSRNOG00000012460
Bio databases IDs NCBI: 25707 Ensembl: ENSRNOG00000012460
Aliases ciliary neurotrophic factor
Synonyms CILIARY NEUROTROPHIC FACTOR, HCNTF
Species
Rat, Rattus norvegicus
OrthologiesHumanMouse

Protein Domains

A protein domain is a distinct structural or functional region within a protein that can evolve, function, and exist independently of the rest of the protein chain. These domains in rat Cntf often fold into stable, three-dimensional structures and are associated with specific biological functions, such as binding to DNA, other proteins, or small molecules.
  • receptor binding domain
  • LIF / OSM family
  • binding protein
  • AB loop
  • ciliary neurotrophic factor receptor binding
  • CD loop
  • interleukin-6 receptor binding
  • LIFR binding domain
  • protein binding
  • cytokine
  • growth factor
  • D helix

Top Findings

The most significant associations for this gene, including commonly observed domains, pathway involvement, and functional highlights based on current data.
disease
  • liver cancer
  • hepatic steatosis
  • liver neoplasia
  • digestive system cancer
  • abdominal cancer
  • cancer
  • epithelial cancer
  • epithelial neoplasia
  • weight loss
  • obesity
regulated by
  • green tea polyphenol
  • dexamethasone
  • TNF
  • 32-134D
  • S-nitrosoglutathione
  • N-methyl-D-aspartate
  • CREB
  • GATA2
  • MYF6
  • cardiotoxin
regulates
  • AKT
  • RHO
  • CASP3
  • ALP
  • glutathione
  • JNK
  • CXCL8
  • Ap1
  • luciferase reporter gene
  • synthetic promoter
role in cell
  • activation in
  • expression in
  • cell death
  • outgrowth
  • apoptosis
  • proliferation
  • quantity
  • activation
  • migration
  • differentiation

Subcellular Expression

Locations within the cell where the protein is known or predicted to be active, providing insight into its function and cellular context.
  • Extracellular Space
  • Cytoplasm
  • cell surface
  • cellular membrane
  • Nucleus
  • Plasma Membrane
  • cytosol
  • glial cell projections
  • cellular protrusions
  • perikaryon
  • axons
  • plasma

Gene Ontology Annotations

Describes the biological processes, cellular components, and molecular functions associated with the rat Cntf gene, providing context for its role in the cell.

Biological Process

Functions and activities the gene product is involved in
  • retinal rod cell differentiation
  • signal transduction
  • positive regulation of cell proliferation
  • neuron development
  • positive regulation of tyrosine phosphorylation of STAT protein
  • muscle organ morphogenesis
  • negative regulation of photoreceptor cell differentiation
  • regulation of retinal cell programmed cell death
  • negative regulation of neuron apoptotic process
  • astrocyte activation
  • positive regulation of axon regeneration
  • ciliary neurotrophic factor-mediated signaling pathway
  • positive regulation of gene expression

Cellular Component

Where in the cell the gene product is active
  • extracellular space
  • cytoplasm
  • extracellular region
  • axon

Molecular Function

What the gene product does at the molecular level
  • growth factor activity
  • protein binding
  • cytokine activity
  • interleukin-6 receptor binding
  • ciliary neurotrophic factor receptor binding

Gene-Specific Assays for Results You Can Trust

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