Structure-function relationships for the EGF/TGF-α family of mitogens

Abstract

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-α are ligands for the EGF-receptor and act as mitogens for a variety of tissues. TGF-α in particular, has been implicated as an autocrine growth factor for several cancer cell lines. Over the last 10 years many groups have examined the structure-function relationships in EGF/TGF-α in attempts to develop antagonists or agonists. In this review the results of these studies are summarised and related to the three-dimensional structure of EGF/TGF-α The dificulties associated with the purification and characterisation of analogues of EGF/TGF-α and with the biological assays are discussed. It is clear that these difficulties h..