EGFRErbBperheen

The EGFRErbBperheen refers to a family of receptor tyrosine kinases that play a crucial role in cell growth, differentiation, and survival. This family includes four members: EGFR (ErbB1), HER2 (ErbB2), HER3 (ErbB3), and HER4 (ErbB4). These receptors are activated by binding to epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like ligands, which triggers a cascade of intracellular signaling pathways.

Upon ligand binding, the ErbB receptors dimerize, either with themselves (homodimerization) or with other ErbB family members (heterodimerization). This dimerization leads to autophosphorylation of tyrosine residues within the intracellular domain of the receptors. These phosphorylated tyrosines then serve as docking sites for various signaling molecules, including adapter proteins and enzymes.

The activated signaling pathways downstream of ErbB receptors are diverse and include the Ras/MAPK pathway, the PI3K/Akt pathway, and the JAK/STAT pathway. These pathways regulate a wide range of cellular processes, such as cell proliferation, migration, and apoptosis. Dysregulation of ErbB signaling is implicated in the development and progression of many human cancers, making these receptors important therapeutic targets. For instance, targeted therapies that inhibit EGFR or HER2 have shown significant clinical benefit in certain types of cancer.