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Description
Transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-alpha) is a member of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) family, sharing the same receptor, EGFR, and regulating cell proliferation, survival, and differention . Members of the family share an EGF-like domain of 45-60 amino acids characterized by the conservation of six regularly spaced cysteins, forming three disulfide bonds that function as their receptor binding domain. TGF-alpha was initially discovered in the media of retrovirally transformed fibroblasts, and it name comes from its ability to induce transformation in cultured fibroblasts . This transforming activity was later shown to require TGF-beta, which potentiates the activity of TGF-alpha through a separate receptor . Soluble TGF-alpha is released from its membrane-bound precusor, pro-TGF-alpha, following protolytic cleavage, but the membrane bound precursor is still able to bind and activate EGFR . Binding of soluble or membrane bound TGF-alpha to EGFR leads to receptor dimerization, tyrosine autophosphorylation, and activation of downstream signaling components. TGF-alpha and related peptides play an important role in the progression of cancer as well as in neuropathological processes . Synonyms: TFGA, Pro-TGF-alpha, TGF-alpha