Activation of erythropoietin signaling by receptor dimerization

The hormone erythropoietin (Epo) is essential for red blood cell developmen t. Epo binds a high affinity receptor on the surface of erythroid progenito r cells, stimulating receptor dimerization and activation of the intracellu lar signal transduction pathways that support erythroid cell survival, prol iferation and differentiation. Biochemical and structural analysis of the e rythropoietin receptor (EpoR) is revealing the molecular mechanisms of EpoR function, leading the way to the development of small molecule Epo mimetic s. This review focuses on the role EpoR dimerization plays in receptor func tion. (C) 1999 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.