Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Wang X
PROVIDER: S-EPMC4932183 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jul
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Wang Xuelu X Fischer Gerhard G Hyvönen Marko M
Nature communications 20160704
Activins are growth factors with multiple roles in the development and homeostasis. Like all TGF-β family of growth factors, activins are synthesized as large precursors from which mature dimeric growth factors are released proteolytically. Here we have studied the activation of activin A and determined crystal structures of the unprocessed precursor and of the cleaved pro-mature complex. Replacing the natural furin cleavage site with a HRV 3C protease site, we show how the protein gains its bio ...[more]