fibroblast growth factor receptor 4
Last updated 18 Aug 2020
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The FGFR4 gene provides instructions for making a protein called fibroblast growth factor receptor 4. This protein is part of a family of fibroblast growth factor receptors that share similar structures and functions. These receptor proteins play a role in important processes such as cell division, regulating cell growth and maturation, formation of blood vessels, wound healing, and embryo development.
Normal function
The FGFR4 gene provides instructions for making a protein called fibroblast growth factor receptor 4. This protein is part of a family of fibroblast growth factor receptors that share similar structures and functions. These receptor proteins play a role in important processes such as cell division, regulating cell growth and maturation, formation of blood vessels, wound healing, and embryo development.
The FGFR4 protein interacts with specific growth factors to conduct signals from the environment outside the cell to the nucleus. The nucleus responds to these signals by switching on or off appropriate genes that help the cell adjust to changes in the environment. In response, the cell might divide, move, or mature to take on specialized functions. Although specific functions of FGFR4 remain unclear, studies indicate that the gene is involved in muscle development and the maturation of bone cells in the skull. The FGFR4 gene may also play a role in the development and maintenance of specialized cells (called foveal cones) in the light-sensitive layer (the retina) at the back of the eye.
Conditions referring to this gene or chromosome
Other names
CD334
FGR4_HUMAN
hydroxyaryl-protein kinase
JTK2 Gene
protein-tyrosine kinase
TKF Gene
tyrosylprotein kinase
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Further reading and references
- fibroblast growth factor receptor 4; MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine.
- Bange J, Prechtl D, Cheburkin Y, Specht K, Harbeck N, Schmitt M, Knyazeva T, Muller S, Gartner S, Sures I, Wang H, Imyanitov E, Haring HU, Knayzev P, Iacobelli S, Hofler H, Ullrich A. Cancer progression and tumor cell motility are associated with the FGFR4 Arg(388) allele. Cancer Res. 2002 Feb 1;62(3):840-7.
- Cornish EE, Natoli RC, Hendrickson A, Provis JM. Differential distribution of fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs) on foveal cones: FGFR-4 is an early marker of cone photoreceptors. Mol Vis. 2004 Jan 8;10:1-14.
- Eswarakumar VP, Lax I, Schlessinger J. Cellular signaling by fibroblast growth factor receptors. Cytokine Growth Factor Rev. 2005 Apr;16(2):139-49. doi: 10.1016/j.cytogfr.2005.01.001. Epub 2005 Feb 1.
- Marics I, Padilla F, Guillemot JF, Scaal M, Marcelle C. FGFR4 signaling is a necessary step in limb muscle differentiation. Development. 2002 Oct;129(19):4559-69. doi: 10.1242/dev.129.19.4559.
- Streit S, Bange J, Fichtner A, Ihrler S, Issing W, Ullrich A. Involvement of the FGFR4 Arg388 allele in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Int J Cancer. 2004 Aug 20;111(2):213-7. doi: 10.1002/ijc.20204.
- Wang J, Stockton DW, Ittmann M. The fibroblast growth factor receptor-4 Arg388 allele is associated with prostate cancer initiation and progression. Clin Cancer Res. 2004 Sep 15;10(18 Pt 1):6169-78. doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-04-0408.
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