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Background
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Activins are dimeric growth and differentiation factors which belong to the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) superfamily of structurally related signaling proteins. Activins signal through a heteromeric complex of receptor serine kinases which include at least two type I ( I and IB) and two type II (II and IIB) receptors. These receptors are all transmembrane proteins, composed of a ligand-binding extracellular domain with cysteine-rich region, a transmembrane domain, and a cytoplasmic domain with predicted serine/threonine specificity. Type I receptors are essential for signaling; and type II receptors are required for binding ligands and for expression of type I receptors. Type I and II receptors form a stable complex after ligand binding, resulting in phosphorylation of type I receptors by type II receptors. ACVR1 is an activin A type I receptor which signals a particular transcriptional response in concert with activin type II receptors.
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Background
References
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- Chapman, S.C., et al., Mol. Endocrinol. 15(4):668-679 (2001).
- Schulte, K.M., et al., Horm. Metab. Res. 32(10):390-400 (2000).
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