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Updated: Jul 31, 2026

Screening and Identification of Small Peptides Targeting Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor2 using a Phage Display Peptide Library
07:32

Screening and Identification of Small Peptides Targeting Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor2 using a Phage Display Peptide Library

Published on: September 30, 2019

Cellular signaling by fibroblast growth factor receptors

V P Eswarakumar1, I Lax, J Schlessinger

  • 1Yale University School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, 333 Cedar Street, P.O. Box 208066, SHM B-295, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.

Cytokine & Growth Factor Reviews
|May 3, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) activate fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs) with heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) to control cell functions. Mutations in FGFRs cause skeletal disorders and cancers.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Signaling
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) are a family of 22 proteins that regulate cellular functions.
  • FGFs bind to fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs), which are receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs).
  • FGF signaling requires co-activation by heparin or heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the molecular mechanisms of FGF/FGFR signaling.
  • To understand the role of FGF/FGFR signaling in human diseases.
  • To identify key signaling molecules downstream of FGFR activation.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on FGF/FGFR signaling pathways.
  • Analysis of genetic studies linking FGFR mutations to human diseases.
  • Description of the biochemical events following FGF/FGFR binding.

Main Results:

  • FGF/FGFR signaling controls cell proliferation, differentiation, migration, survival, and shape.
  • FGFR mutations are implicated in skeletal dysplasias and various cancers.
  • FGF/FGFR activation leads to receptor dimerization, autophosphorylation, and recruitment of signaling proteins like FRS2alpha/beta.

Conclusions:

  • FGF/FGFR signaling is crucial for normal development and cellular homeostasis.
  • Dysregulation of FGF/FGFR signaling contributes to significant human pathologies.
  • FRS2alpha/beta act as key adaptors mediating Ras/MAPK and PI-3K/Akt pathways, regulating cellular responses and feedback inhibition.

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