What are the Key Components of Growth Signaling Pathways?
The main components of growth signaling pathways include:
Growth Factors: Proteins like EGF, PDGF, and VEGF that bind to specific receptors on the cell surface. Receptors: Membrane-bound proteins, such as receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs), that undergo conformational changes upon ligand binding. Adaptor Proteins: Molecules such as Grb2 and Shc that link activated receptors to downstream signaling proteins. Kinases: Enzymes like Src, Raf, and Akt that phosphorylate specific target proteins to propagate the signal. Transcription Factors: Proteins like c-Myc and NF-κB that regulate gene expression in response to growth signals.
