Description
Epigen is an EGF-related polypeptide growth factor that signals through the ErbB receptor-1. It is produced in several tissues, including the testis, liver, heart and in certain tumor cells. Epigen is mitogenic for fibroblasts and epithelial cells. Human Epigen is initially synthesized as a glycosylated 14.7kD transmembrane precursor protein, which is processed by proteolytic cleavage to produce a mature soluble sequence. Recombinant human Epigen is a 7.9kD monomeric protein, containing 72 amino acid residues, which comprises the EGF homologous portion of the Epigen precursor