Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is a protein that stimulates cell growth and differentiation by binding to its receptor, EGFR. Human EGF is 6-kDa^[5] and has 53 amino acid residues and three intramolecular disulfide bonds.^[6]

Quick Facts EGF, Available structures ...

EGF
Available structures PDB Ortholog search: PDBe RCSB List of PDB id codes 1IVO, 1JL9, 1NQL, 1P9J, 2KV4, 3NJP
Identifiers
Aliases	EGF, HOMG4, URG, epidermal growth factor, epithelial growth factor
External IDs	OMIM: 131530 MGI: 95290 HomoloGene: 1483 GeneCards: EGF
Gene location (Human) Chr. Chromosome 4 (human)[1] Band 4q25 Start 109,912,883 bp[1] End 110,013,766 bp[1]
Gene location (Mouse) Chr. Chromosome 3 (mouse)[2] Band 3 G3|3 58.5 cM Start 129,471,214 bp[2] End 129,548,965 bp[2]
RNA expression pattern Bgee Human Mouse (ortholog) Top expressed in renal medulla body of pancreas kidney kidney tubule gastrocnemius muscle biceps brachii deltoid muscle vastus lateralis muscle secondary oocyte metanephric glomerulus Top expressed in submandibular gland kidney parotid gland prostate extensor digitorum longus muscle plantaris muscle vastus lateralis muscle lacrimal gland triceps brachii muscle digastric muscle More reference expression data BioGPS More reference expression data
Gene ontology Molecular function calcium ion binding transmembrane receptor protein tyrosine kinase activator activity epidermal growth factor receptor binding Wnt-protein binding protein binding growth factor activity Wnt-activated receptor activity protein tyrosine kinase activity phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase activity Cellular component integral component of membrane membrane receptor complex extracellular region lysosomal membrane extracellular exosome platelet alpha granule lumen extracellular space clathrin-coated vesicle membrane plasma membrane Biological process negative regulation of epidermal growth factor receptor signaling pathway positive regulation of MAP kinase activity epidermal growth factor receptor signaling pathway regulation of protein localization to cell surface ERK1 and ERK2 cascade platelet degranulation regulation of calcium ion import mammary gland alveolus development MAPK cascade DNA replication positive regulation of transcription, DNA-templated negative regulation of secretion positive regulation of hyaluronan biosynthetic process positive regulation of peptidyl-threonine phosphorylation positive regulation of ubiquitin-dependent protein catabolic process angiogenesis Wnt signaling pathway involved in dorsal/ventral axis specification positive regulation of cell population proliferation positive regulation of peptidyl-tyrosine phosphorylation positive regulation of cerebellar granule cell precursor proliferation canonical Wnt signaling pathway negative regulation of cholesterol efflux peptidyl-tyrosine phosphorylation positive regulation of DNA binding positive regulation of phosphorylation positive regulation of mitotic nuclear division branching morphogenesis of an epithelial tube signal transduction regulation of peptidyl-tyrosine phosphorylation ERBB2 signaling pathway phosphatidylinositol phosphate biosynthetic process positive regulation of protein tyrosine kinase activity activation of transmembrane receptor protein tyrosine kinase activity regulation of cell motility positive regulation of receptor internalization positive regulation of epidermal growth factor-activated receptor activity membrane organization negative regulation of ERBB signaling pathway embryonic retina morphogenesis in camera-type eye positive regulation of gene expression positive regulation of cell migration positive regulation of protein kinase B signaling negative regulation of Notch signaling pathway regulation of receptor signaling pathway via JAK-STAT positive regulation of canonical Wnt signaling pathway positive regulation of protein localization to early endosome Sources:Amigo / QuickGO
Orthologs Species Human Mouse Entrez 1950 13645 Ensembl ENSG00000138798 ENSMUSG00000028017 UniProt P01133 P01132 RefSeq (mRNA) NM_001178130 NM_001178131 NM_001963 NM_001357021 NM_010113 NM_001310737 NM_001329594 RefSeq (protein) NP_001171601 NP_001171602 NP_001954 NP_001343950 NP_001297666 NP_001316523 NP_034243 Location (UCSC) Chr 4: 109.91 – 110.01 Mb Chr 3: 129.47 – 129.55 Mb PubMed search [3] [4]
Wikidata
View/Edit Human View/Edit Mouse

Close

EGF was originally described as a secreted peptide found in the submaxillary glands of mice and in human urine. EGF has since been found in many human tissues, including platelets,^[7] submandibular gland (submaxillary gland),^[8] and parotid gland.^[8] Initially, human EGF was known as urogastrone.^[9]

This section is missing information about the entire 1207-aa long gene product: the pro-pre-EGF; what happens if things go wrong (renal hypomagnesemia 4, OMIM 611718). (December 2023)

In humans, EGF has 53 amino acids (sequence NSDSECPLSHDGYCLHDGVCMYIEALDKYACNCVVGYIGERCzYRDLKWWELR),^[6] with a molecular mass of around 6 kDa.^[5] It contains three disulfide bridges (Cys6-Cys20, Cys14-Cys31, Cys33-Cys42).^[6]

EGF, via binding to its cognate receptor, results in cellular proliferation, differentiation, and survival.^[10]

Salivary EGF, which seems to be regulated by dietary inorganic iodine, also plays an important physiological role in the maintenance of oro-esophageal and gastric tissue integrity. The biological effects of salivary EGF include healing of oral and gastroesophageal ulcers, inhibition of gastric acid secretion, stimulation of DNA synthesis as well as mucosal protection from intraluminal injurious factors such as gastric acid, bile acids, pepsin, and trypsin and to physical, chemical and bacterial agents.^[8]

The Epidermal growth factor can be found in platelets,^[7] urine, saliva, milk, tears, and blood plasma.^[11] It can also be found in the submandibular glands,^[8][12] and the parotid gland.^[8][12] The production of EGF has been found to be stimulated by testosterone.^{[citation needed]}

It has been suggested that portions of this section be split out into another article titled Growth factor. (Discuss) (August 2022)

Polypeptide growth factors include:^[13]

EGF acts by binding with high affinity to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) on the cell surface. This stimulates ligand-induced dimerization,^[14] activating the intrinsic protein-tyrosine kinase activity of the receptor (see the second diagram). The tyrosine kinase activity, in turn, initiates a signal transduction cascade that results in a variety of biochemical changes within the cell – a rise in intracellular calcium levels, increased glycolysis and protein synthesis, and increases in the expression of certain genes including the gene for EGFR – that ultimately lead to DNA synthesis and cell proliferation.^[15]

EGF is the founding member of the EGF-family of proteins. Members of this protein family have highly similar structural and functional characteristics. Besides EGF itself other family members include:^[16]

• Heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor (HB-EGF)
• transforming growth factor-α (TGF-α)
• Amphiregulin (AR)
• Epiregulin (EPR)
• Epigen
• Betacellulin (BTC)
• neuregulin-1 (NRG1)
• neuregulin-2 (NRG2)
• neuregulin-3 (NRG3)
• neuregulin-4 (NRG4).

All family members contain one or more repeats of the conserved amino acid sequence:

CX₇CX_4-5CX_10-13CXCX₈GXRC

Where C is cysteine, G is glycine, R is arginine, and X represents any amino acid.^[16]

This sequence contains six cysteine residues that form three intramolecular disulfide bonds. Disulfide bond formation generates three structural loops that are essential for high-affinity binding between members of the EGF-family and their cell-surface receptors.^[5]

Epidermal growth factor has been shown to interact with epidermal growth factor receptors.^[17][18]

Recombinant human epidermal growth factor, sold under the brand name Heberprot-P, is used to treat diabetic foot ulcers. It can be given by injection into the wound site,^[19] or may be used topically.^[20] Tentative evidence shows improved wound healing.^[21] Safety has been poorly studied.^[21]

EGF is used to modify synthetic scaffolds for manufacturing of bioengineered grafts by emulsion electrospinning or surface modification methods.^[22][23]

EGF was the second growth factor to be identified.^[25] Initially, human EGF was known as urogastrone.^[9] Stanley Cohen discovered EGF while working with Rita Levi-Montalcini at the Washington University in St. Louis during experiments researching nerve growth factor. For these discoveries Levi-Montalcini and Cohen were awarded the 1986 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.