title: [New knowledge about signal transmission through the cell membrane and mechanisms of action of growth factors].
abstract: Growth factors are proteins or peptides which evoke the replication of the nuclear DNA and thus cell division. A survey is given of the structure, the importance and the mechanism of action of the biochemically exactly characterized growth factors. The epidermal growth factor consists of 53 amino acids and is made over outwardly by proteolysis from a large precursor molecule in the membrane: it is attached to a receptor of the cell membrane consisting of three large parts, by means of which the intracellularly lying part of the receptor becomes effective as proteinkinase and phosphorylizes the parts of the receptor as well as adjacently lying proteins. This acts as a signal for the beginning of the phase of the DNA-synthesis (replication) in the chromosomes. The receptor for the epidermal growth factor has a high degree of structure similarity with the insulin receptor which is also active as proteinkinase after insulin binding. The importance of the decomposition of phosphatidylinosite and of its phosphate esters in binding of certain ligands to receptors is shown.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000502:physiology*; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000502:physiology; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000502:physiology; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000502:physiology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000502:physiology; D018129:Phosphatidylinositol Phosphates; D010716:Phosphatidylinositols / Q000378:metabolism; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000502:physiology; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000502:physiology*; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor; D017479:Receptors, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D013002:Somatomedins / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D006133:Growth Substances; D007375:Interleukin-1; D007376:Interleukin-2; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D018129:Phosphatidylinositol Phosphates; D010716:Phosphatidylinositols; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor; D013002:Somatomedins; C037178:phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D017479:Receptors, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor
vernacular_title: Neue Erkenntnisse zur Signalübermittlung durch die Zellmembranen und zum Wirkungsmechanismus von Wachstumsfaktoren.