Receptor binding competition: A paradigm for regulating TGF-β family action.

ABSTRACT: The transforming growth factor (TGF)-β family is a group of structurally related, multifunctional growth factors, or ligands that are crucially involved in the development, regulation, and maintenance of animal tissues. In humans, the family counts over 33 members. These secreted ligands typically form multimeric complexes with two type I and two type II receptors to activate one of two distinct signal transduction branches. A striking feature of the family is its promiscuity, i.e., many ligands bind the same receptors and compete with each other for binding to these receptors. Although several explanations for this feature have been considered, its functional significance has remained puzzling. However, several recent reports have promoted the idea that ligand-receptor binding promiscuity

SUBMITTER: Martinez-Hackert E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7897244 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature