GFRAL GDNF family receptor alpha like [Homo sapiens (human)] - Gene

Summary

Official Symbol: GFRALprovided by HGNC
Official Full Name: GDNF family receptor alpha likeprovided by HGNC
Primary source: HGNC:HGNC:32789
See related: Ensembl:ENSG00000187871 MIM:617837; AllianceGenome:HGNC:32789
Gene type: protein coding
RefSeq status: VALIDATED
Organism: Homo sapiens
Lineage: Eukaryota; Metazoa; Chordata; Craniata; Vertebrata; Euteleostomi; Mammalia; Eutheria; Euarchontoglires; Primates; Haplorrhini; Catarrhini; Hominidae; Homo
Also known as: GRAL; UNQ9356; C6orf144; bA360D14.1
Summary: Enables glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor receptor activity and receptor tyrosine kinase binding activity. Involved in GDF15-GFRAL signaling pathway; positive regulation of MAPK cascade; and positive regulation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B signal transduction. Located in several cellular components, including actin cytoskeleton; focal adhesion; and nucleoplasm. [provided by Alliance of Genome Resources, Jul 2025]
Expression: Low expression observed in reference dataset See more
Orthologs: all
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Genomic context

Location:: 6p12.1

Exon count:: 9

Annotation release	Status	Assembly	Chr	Location
RS_2025_08	current	GRCh38.p14 (GCF_000001405.40)	6	NC_000006.12 (55327469..55402493)
RS_2025_08	current	T2T-CHM13v2.0 (GCF_009914755.1)	6	NC_060930.1 (55167078..55242077)
RS_2024_09	previous assembly	GRCh37.p13 (GCF_000001405.25)	6	NC_000006.11 (55192267..55267291)

Chromosome 6 - NC_000006.12 Genomic Context describing neighboring genes

Genomic regions, transcripts, and products

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Go to reference sequence details

Genomic Sequence:

Go to nucleotide: Graphics FASTA GenBank

Bibliography

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GeneRIFs: Gene References Into Functions

What's a GeneRIF?

GDF-15 Inhibits ADP-Induced Human Platelet Aggregation through the GFRAL/RET Signaling Complex.
Title: GDF-15 Inhibits ADP-Induced Human Platelet Aggregation through the GFRAL/RET Signaling Complex.
Genome-wide association and transcriptome analysis suggests total serum ghrelin to be linked with GFRAL.
Title: Genome-wide association and transcriptome analysis suggests total serum ghrelin to be linked with GFRAL.
Upregulated GDF-15 expression facilitates pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma progression through orphan receptor GFRAL.
Title: Upregulated GDF-15 expression facilitates pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma progression through orphan receptor GFRAL.
Antibody-mediated inhibition of GDF15-GFRAL activity reverses cancer cachexia in mice.
Title: Antibody-mediated inhibition of GDF15-GFRAL activity reverses cancer cachexia in mice.

Submit: New GeneRIF Correction

Phenotypes

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Find tests for this gene in the NIH Genetic Testing Registry (GTR)

Review eQTL and phenotype association data in this region using PheGenI

Variation

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See variants in ClinVar

See studies and variants in dbVar

See Variation Viewer (GRCh37.p13)

Interactions

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Products	Interactant	Other Gene	Complex	Source	Pubs	Description

General gene information

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Markers

D6S1636 (e-PCR)
- UniSTS:28782

D1S1423 (e-PCR)
- UniSTS:149619

G17074 (e-PCR)
- UniSTS:78465

SHGC-146200 (e-PCR)
- UniSTS:175076

Gene Ontology Provided by GOA

Function	Evidence Code	Pubs
enables glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor receptor activity	IDA Inferred from Direct Assay more info	PubMed
enables glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor receptor activity	IEA Inferred from Electronic Annotation more info
enables protein binding	IPI Inferred from Physical Interaction more info	PubMed
enables receptor tyrosine kinase binding	IEA Inferred from Electronic Annotation more info
enables receptor tyrosine kinase binding	IPI Inferred from Physical Interaction more info	PubMed
enables signaling receptor activity	IBA Inferred from Biological aspect of Ancestor more info
enables signaling receptor activity	IEA Inferred from Electronic Annotation more info

Process	Evidence Code	Pubs
involved_in GDF15-GFRAL signaling pathway	IDA Inferred from Direct Assay more info	PubMed
involved_in GDF15-GFRAL signaling pathway	IEA Inferred from Electronic Annotation more info
involved_in negative regulation of appetite	IEA Inferred from Electronic Annotation more info
involved_in negative regulation of appetite	ISS Inferred from Sequence or Structural Similarity more info
involved_in nervous system development	IBA Inferred from Biological aspect of Ancestor more info
involved_in positive regulation of MAPK cascade	IDA Inferred from Direct Assay more info	PubMed
involved_in positive regulation of MAPK cascade	IEA Inferred from Electronic Annotation more info
involved_in positive regulation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B signal transduction	IDA Inferred from Direct Assay more info	PubMed
involved_in reduction of food intake in response to dietary excess	IEA Inferred from Electronic Annotation more info
involved_in reduction of food intake in response to dietary excess	ISS Inferred from Sequence or Structural Similarity more info
involved_in response to metformin	IEA Inferred from Electronic Annotation more info

Component	Evidence Code	Pubs
is_active_in external side of plasma membrane	IBA Inferred from Biological aspect of Ancestor more info
located_in plasma membrane	IDA Inferred from Direct Assay more info	PubMed
located_in plasma membrane	IEA Inferred from Electronic Annotation more info
part_of signaling receptor complex	IBA Inferred from Biological aspect of Ancestor more info

General protein information

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Preferred Names: GDNF family receptor alpha-like

Names: IVFI9356

NCBI Reference Sequences (RefSeq)

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RefSeqs maintained independently of Annotated Genomes

These reference sequences exist independently of genome builds. Explain

These reference sequences are curated independently of the genome annotation cycle, so their versions may not match the RefSeq versions in the current genome build. Identify version mismatches by comparing the version of the RefSeq in this section to the one reported in Genomic regions, transcripts, and products above.