Please complete the following assignment by Friday October 16th.

Growth factor receptors are transmembrane proteins which bind to specific growth factors and
transmit the instructions conveyed by the factors to intercellular space. The growth factor
receptors on cell surface are very common, and cells mainly contains receptors for several
growth factors. Most receptors have a cysteine-rich region, which participate in signal
transduction by receptor tyrosine kinase, e.g., the receptors fibroblast growth factor, vascular
endothelial growth factor, epidermal growth factor, insulin-like growth factor, and
platelet-derived growth factor, etc. Meanwhile, there are some receptors which mediate the
signal transduction via receptor serine-threonine kinase, such as the receptor for transforming
growth factor . Please select a growth factor receptor and answer the following questions:
1.
2.
3.
4.

What is/are the ligands that bind to the receptor?

Describe in short detail the mechanism by which the receptor is normally regulated?
What are the major downstream signalling pathways activated by this receptor?
Briefly describe the normal cellular response following ligand binding (ex. cellular
proliferation).
5. What specific pathological condition results from expression of the mutant form of the
receptor (cancer types)?
6. What is the current treatment for the most prevalent cancer type associated with this
mutant receptor?