Plays an important role in the regulation of cell proliferation, cell differentiation, angiogenesis and myogenesis, and is required for normal muscle regeneration.
The nine known fgf ligands and the four signaling fgf receptors (and their alternatively spliced variants) are expressed in specific spatial and temporal patterns. The activity of this signaling pathway is regulated by ligand binding specificity, heparan sulfate proteoglycans, and the differential signaling capacity of individual fgf receptors.
Our results establish an fgf binding profile for fgfr-4 with afgf having the highest affinity, followed by k-fgf/hst-1 and bfgf. In addition, fgf-6 was found to bind to fgfr-4 in ligand competition experiments. Ligands binding to fgfr-4 induced receptor autophosphorylation and phosphorylation of a set of cellular polypeptides.