Epiregulin (EREG) Active Protein

This gene encodes a secreted peptide hormone and member of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) family of proteins. The encoded protein is a ligand of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and the structurally related erb-b2 receptor tyrosine kinase 4 (ERBB4). The encoded protein may be involved in a wide range of biological processes including inflammation, wound healing, oocyte maturation, and cell proliferation. Additionally, the encoded protein may promote the progression of cancers of various human tissues. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2015]

Epiregulin: Ligand of the EGF receptor/EGFR and ERBB4. May be a mediator of localized cell proliferation. As a mitogen it may stimulate cell proliferation and/or angiogenesis.

Protein type: Membrane protein, integral

Chromosomal Location of Human Ortholog: 4q13.3

Cellular Component: extracellular space; integral to plasma membrane; extracellular region

Molecular Function: protein binding; growth factor activity; epidermal growth factor receptor binding

Biological Process: response to peptide hormone stimulus; nerve growth factor receptor signaling pathway; wound healing; activation of MAPK activity; positive regulation of smooth muscle cell proliferation; positive regulation of interleukin-6 biosynthetic process; female meiosis; negative regulation of smooth muscle cell differentiation; negative regulation of cell proliferation; positive regulation of fibroblast proliferation; primary follicle stage, oogenesis; cell-cell signaling; positive regulation of epidermal growth factor receptor activity; positive regulation of innate immune response; positive regulation of cell proliferation; ovarian cumulus expansion; angiogenesis; negative regulation of epithelial cell proliferation; positive regulation of cytokine production; epidermal growth factor receptor signaling pathway; anatomical structure morphogenesis; phosphoinositide-mediated signaling; fibroblast growth factor receptor signaling pathway; positive regulation of mitosis; cytokine and chemokine mediated signaling pathway; positive regulation of cytokine biosynthetic process; keratinocyte proliferation; luteinizing hormone signaling pathway; oocyte maturation; ovulation; keratinocyte differentiation; organ morphogenesis; positive regulation of protein kinase activity; mRNA transcription; innate immune response; negative regulation of transcription, DNA-dependent; positive regulation of phosphorylation; positive regulation of DNA replication