Epidermal Growth Factor
Synonyms
EGF
Epidermal Growth Factor-Urogastrone
Epidermal growth factor
Growth Factor, Epidermal
Growth Factor-Urogastrone, Epidermal
Human Urinary Gastric Inhibitor
Urogastrone
beta Urogastrone
beta-Urogastrone
A 6-kDa polypeptide growth factor initially discovered in mouse submaxillary glands. Human epidermal growth factor was originally isolated from urine based on its ability to inhibit gastric secretion and called urogastrone. Epidermal growth factor exerts a wide variety of biological effects including the promotion of proliferation and differentiation of mesenchymal and EPITHELIAL CELLS. It is synthesized as a transmembrane protein which can be cleaved to release a soluble active form.