neuregulin

(= neu differentiation factor)

Growth factor of the epidermal growth factor family that induces growth and differentiation of epithelial, glial and muscle cells in culture. Receptor is a tyrosine kinase: will bind erbB3 which will heterodimerise with erbB2. Gene disruption is lethal during embryogenesis with heart malformation and defects in Schwann cells and neural ganglia. Neuregulin 1 and Neuregulin 2 show distinct expression patterns and mediate distinct biological processes.