The high molecular weight isoforms of basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2): an insight into an intracrine mechanism

Basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2) is an important modulator of cell gr owth and differentiation under both physiological and pathological conditio ns. Until recently, most investigations into the FGF-2 signalling pathway w ere concerned with its interaction with specific membrane receptors, Nevert heless, while a 18 kDa protein of FGF-2 is cytosolic, there are also co-tra nslated high molecular weight (HMW) isoforms that are predominantly located in the cell nucleus. An increasing amount of data strongly argue in favour of distinct biological functions depending on the subcellular location of the FGF-2 species. This review describes the evidence concerning the strict ly intracellular mode of action of the HMW isoforms of FGF-2, (C) 2000 Fede ration of European Biochemical Societies.