<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>Extracellular signaling molecules, among them the fibroblast growth factors (FGFs), enable cells to communicate with neighboring cells. Such signaling molecules that receive and transmit a signal require specific tyrosine kinase receptors located at the cell surface (fibroblast growth factor receptors, FGFRs). The binding of a signaling molecule to its specific receptor results in receptor dimerization and conformational changes in the cytoplasmic part of the receptor. The conformational changes lead to trans-autophosphorylation of the tyrosine kinase domains of the receptors and subsequently to induction of several downstream signaling pathways and expression of appropriate genes. The signaling pathways activated by FGFs control and coordinate cell behaviors such as cell division, migration, differentiation, and cell death. FGFs and their transmembrane receptors are widely distributed in different tissues and participate in fundamental processes during embryonic, fetal, and adult human life. The human FGF/FGFR family comprises 22 ligands and 4 high affinity receptors. In addition, FGFs bind to low affinity receptors, heparan sulfate proteoglycans at the cell surface. The availability of appropriate ligand/receptor pair, combined with the co-receptor, initiates signaling. Inappropriate FGF/FGFR signaling can cause skeletal disorders, primarily dwarfism, craniofacial malformation syndromes, mood disorders, metabolic disorders, and Kallman syndrome. In addition, aberrations in FGF/FGFR signaling have already been reported in several types of malignant diseases. Knowledge about the molecular mechanisms of FGF/FGFR activation and signaling is necessary to understand the basis of these diseases.</p>
</abstract>

Extracellular signaling molecules, among them the fibroblast growth factors (FGFs), enable cells to communicate with neighboring cells. Such signaling molecules that receive and transmit a signal require specific tyrosine kinase receptors located at the cell surface (fibroblast growth factor receptors, FGFRs). The binding of a signaling molecule to its specific receptor results in receptor dimerization and conformational changes in the cytoplasmic part of the receptor. The conformational changes lead to trans-autophosphorylation of the tyrosine kinase domains of the receptors and subsequently to induction of several downstream signaling pathways and expression of appropriate genes. The signaling pathways activated by FGFs control and coordinate cell behaviors such as cell division, migration, differentiation, and cell death. FGFs and their transmembrane receptors are widely distributed in different tissues and participate in fundamental processes during embryonic, fetal, and adult human life. The human FGF/FGFR family comprises 22 ligands and 4 high affinity receptors. In addition, FGFs bind to low affinity receptors, heparan sulfate proteoglycans at the cell surface. The availability of appropriate ligand/receptor pair, combined with the co-receptor, initiates signaling. Inappropriate FGF/FGFR signaling can cause skeletal disorders, primarily dwarfism, craniofacial malformation syndromes, mood disorders, metabolic disorders, and Kallman syndrome. In addition, aberrations in FGF/FGFR signaling have already been reported in several types of malignant diseases. Knowledge about the molecular mechanisms of FGF/FGFR activation and signaling is necessary to understand the basis of these diseases.

The canonical FGF-FGFR signaling system at the molecular level

Postępy Higieny i Medycyny Doświadczalnej

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

{"article-title":"The canonical FGF-FGFR signaling system at the molecular level"}

Extracellular signaling molecules, among them the fibroblast growth factors (FGFs), enable cells to communicate with neighboring cells. Such signaling...

The canonical FGF-FGFR signaling system at the molecular level

Article Category: Review

Published Online: Jan 17, 2022

Page range: 711 - 719

Received: Oct 16, 2020

Accepted: Feb 24, 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ahem-2021-0024

Keywords
Fibroblast growth factors, fibroblast growth factor receptors, cellular signaling, tissue homeostasis

© 2021 Patrycja Szybowska et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

The canonical FGF-FGFR signaling system at the molecular level

Article Category: Review

Published Online: Jan 17, 2022

Page range: 711 - 719

Received: Oct 16, 2020

Accepted: Feb 24, 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ahem-2021-0024

KeywordsFibroblast growth factors, fibroblast growth factor receptors, cellular signaling, tissue homeostasis

© 2021 Patrycja Szybowska et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
Fibroblast growth factors, fibroblast growth factor receptors, cellular signaling, tissue homeostasis