The Neuregulin is a member of the epidermal growth factors (EGF) family of receptor kinases, was originally identified as the product of the transforming gene derived from chemically induced rat neuroblastoms. A variety of different protein isoforms are produced from single Neuregulin gene. Four distinct vertebrate gene encode Neuregulin, prosaically named NRG1, NRG2, NRG3, and NRG4. Most of bi...

In an emerging model, area patterning of the mammalian cerebral cortex is regulated in part by embryonic signaling centers. Two have been identified: an anterior telencephalic source of fibroblast growth factors and the cortical hem, a medial structure expressing winglessint (WNT) and bone morphogenetic proteins. We describe a third signaling source, positioned as a mirror image of the cortical...

We show that GGF/neuregulin is a mitogen for prooligodendrocytes (O4+/O1- cells), oligodendrocytes (O4+/O1+ cells), and type-2 astrocytes. Heregulin beta 1, another neuregulin isoform, is also mitogenic. The proliferative effect of glial growth factor (GGF) does not require, but is greatly potentiated by, serum factors. GGF also promotes the survival of pro-oligodendrocytes under serum-free con...

At the neuromuscular synapse, innervation induces endplate-specific expression of adult-type nicotinic acetylcholine receptors by selective expression of their subunit-encoding genes (a2b«d) in endplate-associated myonuclei. These genes are specifically regulated by protein-tyrosine phosphatase (PTPase) activity. In addition, neureguliny acetylcholine-receptor-inducing activity, a nerve-derived...

We are interested in the signaling between axons and glia that leads to myelination and maintenance of the myelin internode, and we have focused on the role of neuregulins and their receptors. Neuregulins are a family of ligands that includes heregulin, neu differentiation factor, glial growth factor, and the acetylcholine receptor-inducing activity. Three signal transducing transmembrane recep...

Heart development requires cardiomyocyte proliferation, coupled with morphogenic differentiation of the inner trabecular myocardium and the outer compact zone myocardium. In mouse embryos lacking the retinoic acid receptor RXRalpha, proliferation and morphogenesis of the compact zone fails. We demonstrated previously that epicardial cells, in response to retinoic acid, secrete an activity that ...

genetic epidemiological studies strongly suggest that additive and interactive genes, each with small effects, mediate the genetic vulnerability for schizophrenia. with the human genome working draft at hand, candidate gene (and ultimately large-scale genome-wide) association studies are gaining renewed interest in the effort to unravel the complex genetics of schizophrenia. linkage and fine ma...