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Tying the knot: The cystine signature and molecular‐recognition processes of the vascular endothelial growth factor family of angiogenic cytokines
Author(s) -
Iyer Shalini,
Acharya K. Ravi
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
the febs journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.981
H-Index - 204
eISSN - 1742-4658
pISSN - 1742-464X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1742-4658.2011.08350.x
Subject(s) - subfamily , vascular endothelial growth factor , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , signal transduction , receptor , angiogenesis , cystine , biochemistry , genetics , cysteine , vegf receptors , gene , cancer research , enzyme
The cystine‐knot motif, made up of three intertwined disulfide bridges, is a unique feature of several toxins, cyclotides and growth factors, and occurs in a variety of species, including fungi, insects, molluscs and mammals. Growth factor molecules containing the cystine‐knot motif serve as ligands for a diverse range of receptors and play an important role in extracellular signalling. This superfamily of polypeptides comprises several homodimeric and heterodimeric molecules that are central characters in both health and disease. Amongst these molecules are a group of proteins that belong to the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) subfamily. The members of this family are known angiogenic factors that regulate processes leading to blood vessel formation in physiological and pathological conditions. The focus of the present review is on the structural characteristics of proteins that belong to the VEGF family and on signal‐transduction pathways that become initiated via the VEGF receptors.