Growth factor receptors.

The initial interaction of growth factors with their target cells is mediated by specific high affinity cell surface receptors. The structural and functional diversity found in growth factors is more limited at the receptor level where receptors for structurally and functionally distinct factors seem to share structural motifs and employ a restricted number of signal transduction and second messenger systems. In many cases the receptors for particular factors remain to be characterized, but rDNA techniques offer the hope that all receptors can eventually be defined in structural detail. As yet understanding of the signal transduction mechanisms remains limited but when unravelled this may offer routes for artificial modulation of growth factor action.