Growth factor receptor

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A growth factor receptor is a receptor that binds to a growth factor. [1] Growth factor receptors are the first stop in cells where the signaling cascade for cell differentiation and proliferation begins. Growth factors, which are ligands that bind to the receptor are the initial step to activating the growth factor receptors and tells the cell to grow and/or divide.

These receptors may use the JAK/STAT, MAP kinase, and PI3 kinase pathways. [2]

A majority of growth factor receptors consists of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs). There are 3 dominant receptor types that are exclusive to research : the epidermal growth factor receptor, the neurotrophin receptor, and the insulin receptors. [3] All growth factor receptors are membrane bound and composed of 3 general protein domains: extracellular, transmembrane, and cytoplasmic. [4] The extracellular domain region is where a ligand may bind, usually with very high specificity. [5] In RTKs, the binding of a ligand to the extracellular ligand binding site leads to the autophosphorylation of tyrosine residues in the intracellular domain. [6] These phosphorylations allow for other intracellular proteins to bind to with the phosphotyrosine-binding domain which results in a series of physiological responses within the cell. [6]

Medical Relevance

Research in today’s society focus on growth factor receptors in order to pinpoint cancer treatment. Epidermal growth factor receptors are involved heavily with oncogene activity. [7] Once growth factors bind to their receptor, a signal transduction pathway occurs within the cell to ensure the cell is working. However, in cancerous cells, the pathway might never turn on or turn off. [7] Furthermore, in certain cancers, receptors (such as RTKs) are often observed to be overexpressed, which corresponds to the uncontrolled proliferation and differentiation of cells. [8] For this same reason, tyrosine receptors are often a target for cancer therapy. [8]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Integrin</span> Instance of a defined set in Homo sapiens with Reactome ID (R-HSA-374573)

Integrins are transmembrane receptors that help cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) adhesion. Upon ligand binding, integrins activate signal transduction pathways that mediate cellular signals such as regulation of the cell cycle, organization of the intracellular cytoskeleton, and movement of new receptors to the cell membrane. The presence of integrins allows rapid and flexible responses to events at the cell surface.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Protein kinase</span> Enzyme that adds phosphate groups to other proteins

A protein kinase is a kinase which selectively modifies other proteins by covalently adding phosphates to them (phosphorylation) as opposed to kinases which modify lipids, carbohydrates, or other molecules. Phosphorylation usually results in a functional change of the target protein (substrate) by changing enzyme activity, cellular location, or association with other proteins. The human genome contains about 500 protein kinase genes and they constitute about 2% of all human genes. There are two main types of protein kinase. The great majority are serine/threonine kinases, which phosphorylate the hydroxyl groups of serines and threonines in their targets. Most of the others are tyrosine kinases, although additional types exist. Protein kinases are also found in bacteria and plants. Up to 30% of all human proteins may be modified by kinase activity, and kinases are known to regulate the majority of cellular pathways, especially those involved in signal transduction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Signal transduction</span> Cascade of intracellular and molecular events for transmission/amplification of signals

Signal transduction is the process by which a chemical or physical signal is transmitted through a cell as a series of molecular events. Most commonly, protein phosphorylation is catalyzed by protein kinases, ultimately resulting in a cellular response. Proteins responsible for detecting stimuli are generally termed receptors, although in some cases the term sensor is used. The changes elicited by ligand binding in a receptor give rise to a biochemical cascade, which is a chain of biochemical events known as a signaling pathway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tyrosine kinase</span> Class hi residues

A tyrosine kinase is an enzyme that can transfer a phosphate group from ATP to the tyrosine residues of specific proteins inside a cell. It functions as an "on" or "off" switch in many cellular functions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paracrine signaling</span>

Paracrine signaling is a form of cell signaling, a type of cellular communication in which a cell produces a signal to induce changes in nearby cells, altering the behaviour of those cells. Signaling molecules known as paracrine factors diffuse over a relatively short distance, as opposed to cell signaling by endocrine factors, hormones which travel considerably longer distances via the circulatory system; juxtacrine interactions; and autocrine signaling. Cells that produce paracrine factors secrete them into the immediate extracellular environment. Factors then travel to nearby cells in which the gradient of factor received determines the outcome. However, the exact distance that paracrine factors can travel is not certain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Epidermal growth factor receptor</span> Transmembrane protein

The epidermal growth factor receptor is a transmembrane protein that is a receptor for members of the epidermal growth factor family of extracellular protein ligands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">C-Met</span> Mammalian protein found in Homo sapiens

c-Met, also called tyrosine-protein kinase Met or hepatocyte growth factor receptor (HGFR), is a protein that in humans is encoded by the MET gene. The protein possesses tyrosine kinase activity. The primary single chain precursor protein is post-translationally cleaved to produce the alpha and beta subunits, which are disulfide linked to form the mature receptor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Receptor tyrosine kinase</span> Class of enzymes

Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) are the high-affinity cell surface receptors for many polypeptide growth factors, cytokines, and hormones. Of the 90 unique tyrosine kinase genes identified in the human genome, 58 encode receptor tyrosine kinase proteins. Receptor tyrosine kinases have been shown not only to be key regulators of normal cellular processes but also to have a critical role in the development and progression of many types of cancer. Mutations in receptor tyrosine kinases lead to activation of a series of signalling cascades which have numerous effects on protein expression. Receptor tyrosine kinases are part of the larger family of protein tyrosine kinases, encompassing the receptor tyrosine kinase proteins which contain a transmembrane domain, as well as the non-receptor tyrosine kinases which do not possess transmembrane domains.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ephrin receptor</span> Protein family

Eph receptors are a group of receptors that are activated in response to binding with Eph receptor-interacting proteins (Ephrins). Ephs form the largest known subfamily of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs). Both Eph receptors and their corresponding ephrin ligands are membrane-bound proteins that require direct cell-cell interactions for Eph receptor activation. Eph/ephrin signaling has been implicated in the regulation of a host of processes critical to embryonic development including axon guidance, formation of tissue boundaries, cell migration, and segmentation. Additionally, Eph/ephrin signaling has been identified to play a critical role in the maintenance of several processes during adulthood including long-term potentiation, angiogenesis, and stem cell differentiation and cancer.

The transforming growth factor beta (TGFB) signaling pathway is involved in many cellular processes in both the adult organism and the developing embryo including cell growth, cell differentiation, cell migration, apoptosis, cellular homeostasis and other cellular functions. The TGFB signaling pathways are conserved. In spite of the wide range of cellular processes that the TGFβ signaling pathway regulates, the process is relatively simple. TGFβ superfamily ligands bind to a type II receptor, which recruits and phosphorylates a type I receptor. The type I receptor then phosphorylates receptor-regulated SMADs (R-SMADs) which can now bind the coSMAD SMAD4. R-SMAD/coSMAD complexes accumulate in the nucleus where they act as transcription factors and participate in the regulation of target gene expression.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Platelet-derived growth factor receptor</span> Protein family

Platelet-derived growth factor receptors (PDGF-R) are cell surface tyrosine kinase receptors for members of the platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) family. PDGF subunits -A and -B are important factors regulating cell proliferation, cellular differentiation, cell growth, development and many diseases including cancer. There are two forms of the PDGF-R, alpha and beta each encoded by a different gene. Depending on which growth factor is bound, PDGF-R homo- or heterodimerizes.

The fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFR) are, as their name implies, receptors that bind to members of the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family of proteins. Some of these receptors are involved in pathological conditions. For example, a point mutation in FGFR3 can lead to achondroplasia.

Zalutumumab is a fully human IgG1 monoclonal antibody (mAb) directed towards the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). It is a product developed by Genmab in Utrecht, the Netherlands. Specifically, zalutumumab is designed for the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN), a type of cancer.

The ErbB family of proteins contains four receptor tyrosine kinases, structurally related to the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), its first discovered member. In humans, the family includes Her1, Her2 (ErbB2), Her3 (ErbB3), and Her4 (ErbB4). The gene symbol, ErbB, is derived from the name of a viral oncogene to which these receptors are homologous: erythroblastic leukemia viral oncogene. Insufficient ErbB signaling in humans is associated with the development of neurodegenerative diseases, such as multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer's disease, while excessive ErbB signaling is associated with the development of a wide variety of types of solid tumor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ERBB3</span> Protein found in humans

Receptor tyrosine-protein kinase erbB-3, also known as HER3, is a membrane bound protein that in humans is encoded by the ERBB3 gene.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fibroblast growth factor receptor 4</span> Protein-coding gene in the species Homo sapiens

Fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the FGFR4 gene. FGFR4 has also been designated as CD334.

A non-receptor tyrosine kinase (nRTK) is a cytosolic enzyme that is responsible for catalysing the transfer of a phosphate group from a nucleoside triphosphate donor, such as ATP, to tyrosine residues in proteins. Non-receptor tyrosine kinases are a subgroup of protein family tyrosine kinases, enzymes that can transfer the phosphate group from ATP to a tyrosine residue of a protein (phosphorylation). These enzymes regulate many cellular functions by switching on or switching off other enzymes in a cell.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cell surface receptor</span> Class of ligand activated receptors localized in surface of plama cell membrane

Cell surface receptors are receptors that are embedded in the plasma membrane of cells. They act in cell signaling by receiving extracellular molecules. They are specialized integral membrane proteins that allow communication between the cell and the extracellular space. The extracellular molecules may be hormones, neurotransmitters, cytokines, growth factors, cell adhesion molecules, or nutrients; they react with the receptor to induce changes in the metabolism and activity of a cell. In the process of signal transduction, ligand binding affects a cascading chemical change through the cell membrane.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Autophosphorylation</span>

Autophosphorylation is a type of post-translational modification of proteins. It is generally defined as the phosphorylation of the kinase by itself. In eukaryotes, this process occurs by the addition of a phosphate group to serine, threonine or tyrosine residues within protein kinases, normally to regulate the catalytic activity. Autophosphorylation may occur when a kinases' own active site catalyzes the phosphorylation reaction, or when another kinase of the same type provides the active site that carries out the chemistry. The latter often occurs when kinase molecules dimerize. In general, the phosphate groups introduced are gamma phosphates from nucleoside triphosphates, most commonly ATP.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tyrosine phosphorylation</span> Phosphorylation of peptidyl-tyrosine

Tyrosine phosphorylation is the addition of a phosphate (PO43−) group to the amino acid tyrosine on a protein. It is one of the main types of protein phosphorylation. This transfer is made possible through enzymes called tyrosine kinases. Tyrosine phosphorylation is a key step in signal transduction and the regulation of enzymatic activity.

References

  1. Growth+Factor+Receptors at the U.S. National Library of Medicine Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
  2. A. V. Hoffbrand; P. A. H. Moss; J. E. Pettit (2006). Essential haematology. Wiley-Blackwell. pp. 6–. ISBN   978-1-4051-3649-5 . Retrieved 28 November 2010.
  3. McInnes, Campbell; Sykes, Brian D. (1997). "Growth factor receptors: Structure, mechanism, and drug discovery". Peptide Science. 43 (5): 339–366. doi:10.1002/(SICI)1097-0282(1997)43:5<339::AID-BIP2>3.0.CO;2-W. ISSN   1097-0282. PMID   9566117.
  4. Goodman, Steven R., ed. (2008-01-01), "Chapter 7 - Intercellular Signaling", Medical Cell Biology (Third Edition), Academic Press, pp. 227–248, doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-370458-0.50012-8, ISBN   978-0-12-370458-0 , retrieved 2020-04-29
  5. Kouvidi, Katerina; Nikitovic, Dragana; Berdiaki, Aikaterini; Tzanakakis, George N. (2014-01-01), Simpson, Melanie A.; Heldin, Paraskevi (eds.), "Chapter Twelve - Hyaluronan/RHAMM Interactions in Mesenchymal Tumor Pathogenesis: Role of Growth Factors", Advances in Cancer Research, Hyaluronan Signaling and Turnover, Academic Press, 123: 319–349, doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-800092-2.00012-5, PMID   25081535 , retrieved 2020-04-29
  6. 1 2 Trenker, Raphael; Jura, Natalia (2020-04-01). "Receptor tyrosine kinase activation: From the ligand perspective". Current Opinion in Cell Biology. 63: 174–185. doi: 10.1016/j.ceb.2020.01.016 . ISSN   0955-0674. PMC   7813211 . PMID   32114309.
  7. 1 2 Sasaki, Takamitsu; Hiroki, Kuniyasu; Yamashita, Yuichi (2013). "The Role of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor in Cancer Metastasis and Microenvironment". BioMed Research International. 2013: 546318. doi: 10.1155/2013/546318 . ISSN   2314-6133. PMC   3748428 . PMID   23986907.
  8. 1 2 Bennasroune, Amar; Gardin, Anne; Aunis, Dominique; Crémel, Gérard; Hubert, Pierre (2004-04-01). "Tyrosine kinase receptors as attractive targets of cancer therapy". Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology. 50 (1): 23–38. doi:10.1016/j.critrevonc.2003.08.004. ISSN   1040-8428. PMID   15094157.