Cntfr, also known as ciliary neurotrophic factor receptor subunit alpha, is a member of the type 1 cytokine receptor family. It mediates the biological action of CNTF. CNTF is a polypeptide hormone that supports the survival of neurons of the peripheral sensory, sympathetic, and ciliary ganglia at various stages in their development. CNTFR and its cognate ligand support the survival of neurons. The CNTF receptor complex is most closely related to, and shares subunits with the receptor complexes for interleukin-6 and leukemia inhibitory factor. The specificity conferring alpha subunit of the CNTF complex (CNTFR alpha), is extremely well conserved across species, and has a distribution localized predominantly to the nervous system and skeletal muscle. Recombinant rat Cntfr, fused to His-tag at C-terminus, was expressed in insect cell and purified by using conventional chromatography techniques.