FGF-1/FGF-Acidic Protein, Human

Human fibroblast growth factor 1 (FGF-1), also known as acidic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-Acidic), is one of the best characterized members of the FGF superfamily. FGF-1 is a powerful mitogen that exhibit potent effects on numerous different types of cells. It plays a number of roles in several important physiological and pathological processes, such as embryonic development, morphogenesis, angiogenesis, wound healing and atheromatosis, carcinogenesis, development, and invasion of cancer. FGF-1 is released extracellularly as a disulfide-linked homodimer and is stored in complex with extracellular heparan sulfate. The association of FGF-1 with heparan sulfate is a prerequisite for its subsequent interaction with FGF receptors. Ligation triggers receptor dimerization, transphosphorylation, and internalization of receptor/FGF complexes.