Betacellulin
Betacellulin (BTC) is a member of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) family that acts as a growth factor, binding EGFR, ERBB4 and other EGF receptor family members. It is made as a precursor, probetacellulin, and released as a secreted ligand. Browse Assay Genie's current range of Betacellulin research reagents below, or read on for the biology behind the target.
Betacellulin is a growth factor that binds to EGFR, ERBB4 and other members of the EGF receptor family. It is a potent mitogen for retinal pigment epithelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells. Both a secreted form and a membrane-anchored form of the protein bind to multiple different EGF receptors, so it can signal as a soluble ligand or from the cell surface.
The BTC gene encodes a member of the EGF family of proteins. Alternative splicing produces multiple transcript variants, and at least one of these encodes a preproprotein. This precursor is proteolytically processed to generate the secreted growth factor. UniProt lists the precursor as probetacellulin, and its subcellular locations are the extracellular space and the cell membrane. HGNC places the gene in the EGF ligand family. The mouse ortholog is Btc.
In terms of biology, betacellulin promotes pancreatic cell proliferation and insulin secretion, and it promotes retinal vascular permeability. Mutations in the gene may be associated with type 2 diabetes in human patients. These roles make the betacellulin protein a useful subject for studies of EGF receptor signalling, pancreatic biology and retinal vasculature.
Betacellulin binds EGFR, ERBB4 and other EGF receptor family members, making it a ligand for studying receptor family activation.
Betacellulin promotes pancreatic cell proliferation and insulin secretion, and BTC mutations may be associated with type 2 diabetes.
The protein promotes retinal vascular permeability and is a potent mitogen for retinal pigment epithelial cells.
Betacellulin is a potent mitogen for vascular smooth muscle cells, relevant to proliferation and growth factor studies.
Betacellulin is a growth factor that binds EGFR, ERBB4 and other EGF receptor family members. It is a potent mitogen for retinal pigment epithelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells, promotes pancreatic cell proliferation and insulin secretion, and promotes retinal vascular permeability.
Both. A secreted form and a membrane-anchored form bind multiple EGF receptors. The BTC gene gives rise to a preproprotein, called probetacellulin in UniProt, which is proteolytically processed to release the secreted growth factor. Alternative splicing yields several transcript variants.
NCBI Gene reports that mutations in BTC may be associated with type 2 diabetes in human patients. The mouse ortholog is Btc. Check the datasheet of any product for its validated reactivity.
Other EGF family ligands and the EGF receptors that betacellulin engages.
Gene and protein annotations from HGNC, NCBI Gene and UniProt P35070; product specifications from Assay Genie datasheets.