Making of BDNF: role of promoters, enhancers, and untranslated regions

Abstract

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a neurotrophin with crucial roles in the developing and adult nervous system, contributing to neuronal survival, differentiation, and synaptic plasticity. The pleiotropic functions of BDNF require stringent spatiotemporal control of its expression, making BDNF one of the most thoroughly studied activity-regulated genes. Over the years, substantial evidence has accumulated, providing insights into BDNF gene structure, numerous mRNA variants, their different localization patterns and translational efficiencies, as well as the functions of the BDNF protein in different tissues. This review aims to summarize the current understanding of the mechanisms governing BDNF expression at transcriptional, posttranscriptional, and translational levels, offering an integrated perspective of BDNF regulation.

Keywords: brain-derived neurotrophic factor; neuronal activity; neurotrophin; posttranscriptional regulation; transcriptional regulation.