title: Insulin-like growth factor binding proteins: a review of methodological aspects of their purification, analysis and regulation.
abstract: The reason why there are at least 6 distinct high affinity IGFBPs is obviously a great challenge for investigators to unravel. In order to undertake this challenge a wide range of techniques have now been developed for investigating IGFBPs. As the IGFBPs have been characterized it has become clear that they are complex multi-faceted molecules; the more tools that can be applied to examine them, the better are the chances for getting a complete picture. The return for the investment of all this technology is the hope that elucidation of the sophisticated system of IGFBPs will provide a much better understanding of how the pluripotential actions of the ubiquitous IGFs can be most appropriately regulated in a manner specific to each tissue and according to developmental and environmental conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Bristol.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Holly
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Martin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D010450:Endopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D018969:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D018969:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins; D010450:Endopeptidases