title: The HGF receptor family: unconventional signal transducers for invasive cell growth.
abstract: The HGF receptor family includes tyrosine kinases encoded by three oncogenes: MET, SEA and RON. The members of this gene family share a unique functional feature: they mediate cell dissociation and motility ('scattering') in physiological conditions, and invasiveness in their activated versions. The Met, Ron and Sea receptors display a distinctive signal transduction behaviour. Unlike conventional growth factor receptors, their cytoplasmic tails contain a multifunctional docking site. Upon autophosphorylation, this sequence simultaneously binds and activates multiple SH2-containing transducers, including Ras and PI 3-kinase. A deregulated activation of this 'supersite' triggers a dramatic pleiotropic signal which is responsible for invasive cell growth.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Cancer Research, University of Torino Medical School, Italy.
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Comoglio
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Boccaccio
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D030161:Avian Proteins; D002455:Cell Division / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes / Q000502:physiology; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000502:physiology; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D030161:Avian Proteins; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; C082018:sea protein, Gallus gallus; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met; C080835:RON protein; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases