Human EGF

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is a small, potent growth factor capable of inducing cell proliferation, differentiation, and survival. All EGF family members are synthesized as type I transmembrane precursor proteins that may contain several EGF domains in the extracellular region. The mature proteins are released from the cell surface by regulated proteolysis. The full length EGF protein is 1207 amino acids (aa) (EGF precursor) containing nine EGF domains and nine LDLR class B repeat s. However, the mature protein is much smaller, only 53 aa, and is generated by proteolytic cleavage of the EGF domain proximal to the transmembrane region. EGF is a high affinity ligand of the EGF receptor (ErbB). Biological activities ascribed to EGF include epithelial development, angiogenesis, inhibition of gastric acid secretion, fibroblast proliferation, and colony formation of epidermal cells in culture _1-5_.