As a member of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) family, EGFR protein is type I transmembrane glycoprotein that binds a subset of EGF family ligands including EGF, amphiregulin, TGF-α, betacellulin, etc. EGFR protein plays a crucial role in signaling pathway in the regulation of cell proliferation, survival and differentiation. Binding of a ligand induces EGFR protein homo- or heterodimerization, the subsequent tyrosine autophosphorylation and initiates various down stream pathways (MAPK, PI3K/PKB and STAT). In addition, EGFR signaling also has been shown to exert action on carcinogenesis and disease progression, and thus EGFR protein is proposed as a target for cancer therapy currently.
Full Name
epidermal growth factor receptor
References
- Schlessinger, J. (2000) Cell signaling by receptor tyrosine kinases. Cell 103(2): 211-25.
- Giaccone, G. (2005) HER1/EGFR-targeted agents: predicting the future for patients with unpredictable outcomes to therapy. Ann. Oncol. 16(4): 538-48.
- Yarden, Y., et al. (2001) Untangling the ErbB signalling network. Nat. Rev. Mol. Cell. Biol. 2(2): 127-37.