NEUREGULIN (also called NDF, heregulin, GGF and ARIA) is a member of t
he EGF family which induces growth and differentiation of epithelial,
glial and muscle cells in culture(1-4). The biological effects of the
factor are mediated by tyrosine kinase receptors. Neuregulin can bind
directly to erbB3 and erbB4 and receptor heterodimerization allows neu
regulin-dependent activation of erbB2 (refs 1, 2, 5), A targeted mutat
ion in mice reveals multiple essential roles of neuregulin in developm
ent, Here we show that neuregulin -/- embryos die during embryogenesis
and display heart malformations. In addition, Schwann cell precursors
and cranial ganglia fail to develop normally. The phenotype demonstra
tes that in vivo neuregulin acts locally and frequently in a paracrine
manner. All cell types affected by the mutation express either erbB3
or erbB4, indicating that either of these tyrosine kinase receptors ca
n be a component in recognition and transmission of essential neuregul
in signals.