Epiregulin

Epiregulin (EPR) is a protein that in humans is encoded by the EREG gene.

Structure

Epiregulin consists of 46 amino acid residues. Its secondary structure contains approximately 30 percent of β-sheet in the strand. Some of the residues form loops and turns due to the hydrogen bonding. The percentage of β-sheet in epiregulin depends on the domain and the secondary structures that they occupy. The polymeric molecules of epiregulin has the formula weight of 5280.1 g/mol with a polypeptide(L), a polymer type.

Structural motifs in most proteins have typical connections in an all β motif. Meaning that the polypeptide chains do not make a crossover connection or in so far as this type of connection has not been observed. Epiregulin is one of the proteins that occupies a typical connection in all β motif. Furthermore, as the structure of epiregulin forms a chain in an all β motif, it also forms β hairpin structural motif. A β hairpin is when the two adjacent anti-parallel β strands connected by a β-turn.

Function

Epiregulin is a member of the epidermal growth factor family. Epiregulin can function as a ligand of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), as well as a ligand of most members of the ERBB (v-erb-b2 oncogene homolog) family of tyrosine-kinase receptors. The secondary structure at the C-terminus epiregulin is different from other epidermal growth factor family ligands because of the lack of hydrogen bonds. The structural difference at the C-terminus may provide an explanation for the reduced binding affinity of epiregulin to the ERBB receptors.

Further reading

This article incorporates text from the United States National Library of Medicine, which is in the public domain.