Developmental Signals - Fibroblast Growth Factor

Notice - Mark Hill

Currently this page is only a template and will be updated (this notice removed when completed).

Introduction

Fibroblast Growth Factors (FGF) were originally identified by their ability to stimulate fibroblast cell proliferation but have a role in a growing number of different tissues development and differentiation and continue to have a role in the adult.

The first two identified factors were originally given the nomenclature of acidic or basic. We now know there to be at least 17 different FGFs. These protein growth factors are bound by 4 different cell membrane receptors (FGFR1-4). FGFRs belong to the tyrosine kinase receptor family.

The mammalian Fgf family can be divided into the intracellular Fgf11/12/13/14 subfamily (iFGFs), the endocrine hormone-like Fgf15/21/23 subfamily (hFGFs), and the paracrine canonical Fgf subfamilies, including Fgf1/2/5, Fgf3/4/6, Fgf7/10/22, Fgf8/17/18, and Fgf9/16/20.