Structure and Function of Vascular
Endothelial Growth Factor and its Related Proteins
PAN Xin,CAO Guang-Wen,KE Chong-Wei,HE Xiang and QI
Zhong-Tian
( Department of Microbiology,Second Military Medical University,Shanghai
200433,China )
Abstract Vascular endothelial growth
factor(VEGF) is a highly specific mitogen promoting the formation of blood
vessels in embryogenesis and wound healing. It is also a potent inducer of
vascular permeability. It is a member of the cystine knot growth factor
superfamily. A detailed structural and functional characterization of the
interactions between VEGF and its receptors is a prerequisite for the design of
molecule antagonists. These structural characterizations and biological
properties make VEGF an important research object in the fields of
neovascularization of ischemia tissues,prognosis of cancers,tumor
metastasis,and the gene therapy.
Key Words Vascular endothelial growth factor；cystine knot growth factor；receptor
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