SIGNAL-TRANSDUCTION VIA PLATELET-DERIVED GROWTH-FACTOR RECEPTORS

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) exerts its stimulatory effects o n cell growth and motility by binding to two related protein tyrosine kinase receptors. Ligand binding induces receptor dimerization and aut ophosphorylation, allowing binding and activation of cytoplasmic SH2-d omain containing signal transduction molecules. Thereby, a number of d ifferent signaling pathways are initiated leading to cell growth, acti n reorganization migration and differentiation. Recent observations su ggest that extensive cross-talk occurs between different signaling pat hways, and that stimulatory signals are modulated by inhibitory signal s arising in parallel. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reser ved.