Fibroblast growth factor receptor

Function

Fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFR) are receptors which bind fibroblast growth factors (FGF). Each FGFR can activate several FGFs. Five FGFRs have been identified so far. FGFRs differ in their ligand specificity and tissue distribution. The binding of FGF to FGFR starts a cascade of signaling which influences mitogenesis and differentiation^[1].

Disease

Mutation in FGFR3 causes achondroplasia and is involved in myeloma. Mutations in FGFR2 cause Crouzon syndrome.

Structural insights

FGFR consist of an extracellular ligand-binding domain (LBD), transmembrane helix domain and cytoplasmic tyrosine kinase activity domain (TKD) with phosphorylated tyrosine designated PTR. FGFR LBD contains 3 immunoglobulin-like domains D1, D2 and D3.