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Query: EC:2.7.10.1 (ERK)
95,504 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Binding of cellular growth factors to their receptors constitutes a highly specific interaction and the basis for cell and tissue-type specific growth and differentiation. A unique feature of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptors is the multitude of structural variants and an unprecedented degree of cross-reactivity between receptors and their various ligands. To examine receptor-ligand specificity within these families of growth factors and receptors, we used genetic engineering to substitute discrete regions between Bek/FGFR2 and the closely related keratinocyte growth factor receptor (KGFR). We demonstrate that a confined, 50 amino acid, variable region within the third immunoglobulin-like domain of Bek and KGFR exclusively determines their ligand binding specificities. Replacing the variable region of Bek/FGFR2 with the corresponding sequence of KGFR resulted in a chimeric receptor which bound KGF and had lost the capacity to bind basic FGF. We present evidence that the two variable sequences are encoded by two distinct exons that map close together in the mouse genome and follow a constant exon, suggesting that the two receptors were derived from a common gene by mutually exclusive alternative mRNA splicing. These results identify the C-terminal half of the third immunoglobulin-like domain of FGF receptors as a major determinant for ligand binding and present a novel genetic mechanism for altering receptor-ligand specificity and generating receptor diversity.
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PMID:A confined variable region confers ligand specificity on fibroblast growth factor receptors: implications for the origin of the immunoglobulin fold. 131 75

The bek gene encodes a member of the high-affinity fibroblast growth factor receptor family. The BEK/FGFR-2 receptor is a membrane-spanning tyrosine kinase with the typical features of FGF receptors. We have cloned a murine bek cDNA and expressed it in receptor-negative Chinese hamster ovary cells and in 32D myeloid cells. The BEK receptor expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells binds acidic FGF, basic FGF, and Kaposi FGF equally well but does not bind keratinocyte growth factor or FGF-5 appreciably. Upon treatment with basic FGF or Kaposi FGF, the BEK receptor is phosphorylated and a mitogenic response is achieved. Heparan sulfate proteoglycans have been shown to play an obligate role in basic FGF binding to the high-affinity FLG receptor. Unlike the BEK-expressing Chinese hamster ovary cells, 32D cells expressing the BEK receptor require the addition of exogenous heparin in order to grow in the presence of basic FGF or Kaposi FGF. We show that the addition of heparin greatly enhances the binding of radio-labeled basic FGF to the receptor. Thus the BEK receptor, like FLG, also requires an interaction with heparan sulfate proteoglycans to facilitate binding to its ligands.
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PMID:Characterization of the murine BEK fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptor: activation by three members of the FGF family and requirement for heparin. 137 95

The topical application of recombinant growth factors such as epidermal growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor-BB homodimer (rPDGF-BB), keratinocyte growth factor (rKGF), and neu differentiation factor has resulted in significant acceleration of healing in several animal models of wound repair. In this study, we established highly reproducible and quantifiable full and deep partial thickness porcine burn models in which burns were escharectomized 4 or 5 days postburn and covered with an occlusive dressing to replicate the standard treatment in human burn patients. We then applied these growth factors to assess their efficacy on several parameters of wound repair: extracellular matrix and granulation tissue production, percent reepithelialization, and new epithelial area. In full thickness burns, only rPDGF-BB and the combination of rPDGF-BB and rKGF induced significant changes in burn repair. rPDGF-BB induced marked extracellular matrix and granulation tissue production (P = 0.013) such that the burn defect was filled within several days of escharectomy, but had no effect on new epithelial area or reepithelialization. The combination of rPDGF-BB and rKGF in full thickness burns resulted in a highly significant increase in extracellular matrix and granulation tissue area (P = 0.0009) and a significant increase in new epithelial area (P = 0.007), but had no effect on reepithelialization. In deep partial thickness burns, rKGF induced the most consistent changes. Daily application of rKGF induced a highly significant increase in new epithelial area (P < 0.0001) but induced only a modest increase in reepithelialization (83.7% rKGF-treated versus 70.2% control; P = 0.016) 12 days postburn. rKGF also doubled the number of fully reepithelialized burns (P = 0.02) at 13 days postburn, at least partially because of marked stimulation of both epidermal and follicular proliferation as assessed by proliferating cell nuclear antigen expression. In situ hybridization for KGFR in porcine burns revealed strong expression of KGFR on hair follicles and basal epidermis, confirming direct rKGF action on follicular as well as epidermal keratinocytes. Although the epithelial proliferation induced by rKGF resulted in marked neoepidermal psoriasiform hyperplasia with exaggerated rete ridges and neoepidermal and follicular maturation as assessed by expression of cytokeratin 10, a marker of keratinocyte terminal differentiation was not delayed and appeared to be accelerated in some rKGF-treated burns. Recombinant epidermal growth factor induced a trend toward increased new epithelial area in deep partial thickness burns, but had no effect on reepithelialization. The recombinant neu differentiation factor-alpha 2 isoform had no significant biological effects in either full or deep partial thickness burns.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:Growth factors in porcine full and partial thickness burn repair. Differing targets and effects of keratinocyte growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor-BB, epidermal growth factor, and neu differentiation factor. 748 90

We have previously cloned and sequenced a newt keratinocyte growth factor receptor (KGFR) cDNA which exhibited a unique spatial and temporal expression pattern in the regenerating newt limb. In this report, we further characterize the biochemical and functional properties of this newt KGFR. A stable Chinese hamster ovary transfectant overexpressing the newt KGFR was capable of binding both 125I-fibroblast growth factor-1 (FGF-1) and 125I-FGF-7 but not 125I-FGF-2, indistinguishable from the human KGFR. Scatchard analysis and cross-linking studies further support the conclusion that FGF-1 and FGF-7 are the ligands for the newt KGFR. In addition to their ability to bind to FGFs, both the human and the newt KGFR are also capable of repressing differentiation in mouse MM14 myoblasts. MM14 cells express FGFR1 and are repressed from differentiation by FGF-1, FGF-2, and FGF-4 but not FGF-7. Co-transfection of MM14 cells with either a human or newt KGFR expression construct conferred a response to FGF-7 as determined by a human alpha-cardiac actin/luciferase reporter construct. The response to FGF-7 was similar to the endogenous FGF response as FGF-7 prevented MM14 myoblasts from undergoing terminal differentiation. Thus, both the human and the newt KGFRs transduce signals similar to those transduced via the endogenous mouse FGFR1. Together these data indicate that this newly isolated newt KGFR is a functional receptor as it binds two FGF family members with high affinity and mediates signaling in skeletal muscle myoblasts. Because the binding pattern of the newt KGFR is similar to the pattern observed for its mammalian counterpart, it emphasizes the strict conservation that this ligand/receptor system has undergone through evolution.
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PMID:Conservation of ligand specificity between the mammalian and amphibian fibroblast growth factor receptors. 749 35

All of 13 human esophageal cancer cell lines contained mRNAs for both basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and its receptor, FGFR1/N-sam protein, while they did not have mRNAs for keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) despite the presence of mRNAs for the KGF receptor gene, K-sam. The results indicate that in human esophageal cancer, bFGF plays roles in an autocrine manner, while KGF acts as a paracrine mediator. In contrast, only one of seven human gastric cancer cell lines contained bFGF mRNAs, while three out of the seven had mRNAs for FGFR1/N-sam protein. The KGF gene was not expressed in any of the gastric cancer cell lines, while K-sam mRNAs were detected in six out of the seven. The results demonstrate that in most human gastric cancers, bFGF does not act as an autocrine mediator, while KGF acts as a paracrine factor. The mRNAs for the other four members of the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family, including acidic FGF, int-2 protein, hst-1 protein, FGF5 protein and FGF6/hst-2 protein could not be detected in the esophageal and gastric cancer cell lines.
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PMID:Expression of fibroblast growth factor gene family and its receptor gene family in the human upper gastrointestinal tract. 751 92

Fibroblast growth factors (FGF) regulate the growth and differentiation of cells through complex combinatorial signaling pathways. There are nine ligands that interact with a family of four tyrosine kinase FGF receptors (FGFR). Diversity in FGF signaling is determined in part by the affinity of specific ligand-receptor pairs. Alternative splicing in the FGFR ligand binding domain generates additional receptor isoforms with novel ligand affinities. For example, splicing events in the ligand binding domain of FGFR2 dramatically increases its affinity for keratinocyte growth factor (KGF/FGF-7). We have identified an alternatively spliced form of the FGFR3 mRNA, corresponding to known splice variants of FGFRs 1 and 2. We demonstrate both by binding studies on genetically engineered soluble receptors and by the mitogenic response of growth factor-dependent cell lines that this splice variant of FGFR3 (FGFR3 IIIb), by binding only acidic FGF (aFGF/FGF-1), has the most restricted ligand binding properties of any FGFR thus far described. Furthermore, by constructing a chimeric receptor that contains the homologous exon from FGFR2, we demonstrate that this single domain from FGFR2 is sufficient to confer upon FGFR3 the ability to bind KGF/FGF-7. The uniquely limited repertoire of ligands that interact with this receptor suggests that a novel ligand for FGFR3 IIIb exists.
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PMID:Fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) 3. Alternative splicing in immunoglobulin-like domain III creates a receptor highly specific for acidic FGF/FGF-1. 751 69

Stromal-epithelial cell interaction is very important for the development of human benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Growth factors and their receptors in the prostate are thought to mediate the cell communication and play some roles in the development of BPH. Among many growth factors, fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family members have received the most intensive study, and mRNAs for acidic FGF (aFGF), basic FGF (bFGF) and keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) have been identified in rat or human prostate. However, synthesis sites and roles of them in stromal-epithelial cell interaction remain to be undefined. In the present study, to define the mechanisms for the regulation of prostatic cell growth by stromal cells in human BPH, we established the method for isolation and culture of epithelial cells as well as stromal cells from human BPH tissue. Using these primary cultured prostatic cells, we evaluated the effects of stromal cell conditioned medium (SCM) and stromal cell extract (SCE) on the growth of stromal cells and epithelial cells by [3H]-thymidine incorporation assay. We also examined the expression of mRNAs for aFGF, bFGF, KGF, FGF receptor 1 (FGFR1) and FGFR2 in epithelial and stromal cells using Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) analysis. As the results, both SCM and SCE stimulated the growth of stromal cells, and the growth promoting effects of them to stromal cells were completely suppressed by anti-bFGF neutralizing antibody, but not by anti-aFGF neutralizing antibody at all. SCM also stimulated the growth of epithelial cells. The growth promoting effect of it to epithelial cells was not completely suppressed by anti-bFGF neutralizing antibody, and not by anti-aFGF neutralizing antibody at all. Furthermore, RT-PCR analysis demonstrated the expression of mRNAs for bFGF, KGF and FGFR1 in stromal cells and that of FGFR2 in epithelial cells. These findings suggest that bFGF produced by stromal cells acts on stromal cells through FGFR1 by an autocrine mechanism, KGF produced by stromal cells acts on epithelial cells through FGFR2 by a paracrine manner in human BPH. These mechanisms for the regulation of cell growth by stromal cells were thought to contribute to the development of human BPH.
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PMID:[Studies on the mechanisms of action of fibroblast growth factors in stromal cells in hyperplastic human prostate]. 754 Oct 88

We investigated the expression and distribution of keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) (FGF-7) and its receptor (KGFR) during reepithelialization of human skin. KGF mRNA levels increased rapidly by 8-10-fold and remained elevated for several days. In contrast, KGFR transcript levels decreased early but were significantly elevated by 8-9 d. A KGF-immunoglobulin G fusion protein (KGF-HFc), which specifically and sensitively detects the KGFR, localized the receptor to differentiating keratinocytes of control epidermis, but revealed a striking decrease in receptor protein expression during the intermediate period of reepithelization. Suramin, which blocked KGF binding and stripped already bound KGF from its receptor, failed to unmask KGFRs in tissue sections from the intermediate phase of wound repair. The absence of KGFR protein despite increased KGFR transcript levels implies functional receptor downregulation in the presence of increased KGF. This temporal modulation of KGF and KGFRs provides strong evidence for the functional involvement of KGF in human skin reepithelialization.
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PMID:Modulation of keratinocyte growth factor and its receptor in reepithelializing human skin. 759 7

A cDNA predicted to encode a transmembrane tyrosine kinase receptor with sequence features characteristic of known fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptors was isolated from an expression library constructed from the human mammary epithelial cell line B5/589. This cDNA, designated cl44, encodes a product of 803 amino acid residues and was readily distinguishable from known FGF receptors. During the course of our studies, Partanen et al. (Partanen, J., Makela, T. P., Eerola, E., Korhonen, J., Hirvonen, H., Claesson, W. L., and Alitalo, K. (1991) EMBO J. 10, 1347-1354) isolated a new FGF receptor, designated FGFR4, from the human leukemia cell line, K562. Its amino acid sequence is identical to that of cl44 with the exception of 1 residue. The 5'-untranslated sequences of the two cDNAs diverged far upstream of the initiation codon. A myoblast line, L6E9, which lacks FGF receptors, was utilized to express high levels of FGFR4. We found, in contrast to Partenen et al., who reported only binding of acidic FGF, that FGFR4 bound both acidic and basic FGF with dissociation constants of 10-15 and 120 pM, respectively. No detectable binding of keratinocyte growth factor was observed. In studies aimed to determine whether FGF receptors contribute to the development of human tumors, we screened RNAs prepared from cell lines derived from a variety of solid tumors. High levels of the cl44 transcript were detected in 8 of 14 and 6 of 9 human mammary and kidney carcinomas, respectively, but only infrequently in other types of tumors. In contrast, FGFR1 was found to be frequently expressed in kidney, but not in breast tumor cells, suggesting a possible role for FGFR4 in human mammary cancer.
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PMID:Fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 is a high affinity receptor for both acidic and basic fibroblast growth factor but not for keratinocyte growth factor. 768 Jun 45

The murine fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) and keratinocyte growth factor receptor (KGFR) are two products of the same gene which display distinct binding specificities. We and others have shown that a major structural element underlying this functional divergence is a variable 50 amino acids long region constituting the C-terminal half of the third immunoglobulin (Ig)-like domain of the receptor. This region of the two receptors is encoded by two distinct exons which are alternatively used in cells of different tissues and origin. To further investigate the role of this confined variable region in determining ligand binding specificity we have generated a chimeric molecule between FGFR1 and KGFR where the variable segment of KGFR replaces the homologous region in FGFR1. Binding studies as well as chemical crosslinking of radiolabeled ligands revealed that the recombinant FGFR1/KGFR chimera has retained the binding affinity to acidic FGF and FGF4 (hst/kfgf) but lost the capacity to bind basic FGF (bFGF). This chimeric receptor bound keratinocyte growth factor (KGF), however, with significantly lower affinity as compared with KGFR. High affinity binding of KGF was acquired only when also domain 2 in this chimera was replaced by its homologous domain from FGFR2. These results demonstrate that ligand binding and specificity involves multiple receptor elements which are located at both Ig-like domain 2 and 3 of FGF receptors.
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PMID:Multiple structural elements determine ligand binding of fibroblast growth factor receptors. Evidence that both Ig domain 2 and 3 define receptor specificity. 768 32


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