Aim To analyze the secondary structure and neurotrophic effect of a specific protein in sensory neurons. Methods Comparison of the proteins expressed in the rat spinal sensory neurons and motor neurons was made by two dimensional electrophoresis. One specific protein in sensory neurons was isolated and purified by DEAE Sephacel ion exchange chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography. A primary analysis of its secondary structure by circular dichroism, and its neurotrophic effects were investigated using the model of dorsal root ganglia(DRG) cultured in vitro . Results The molecular weight and isoelectric point of the protein were 33 1 kDa and 5 52, respectively. Its circular dichroism showed that there were 20 8% α helix, 54 8% β sheet, 7 3% turn, and 17 1% random coil in its secondary structure. Biological experiments showed that the protein could promote the neurite outgrowth of DRG. Conclusion A specific protein in spinal sensory tissue with molecular weight of 33 1 kDa has been purified. There is mainly β sheet in the secondary structure of the protein. And the protein has neurotrophic effects in the model of DRG.