As a typical view, endocytosis of EGFR induces its remouve from the plasma membrane and induces its degradation, so it is a mecanism for attenuating signal.
I always can not understand or accept this view memtioned-above. Firstly, ligand-induced EGFR endocytosis should be the indispensable ways of EGFR activation. That's to say, endocytosis is the necessary condition for initiation of signal. How can we say the prerequisite of signal as termination of signal?! This is quiet contradictory that I really can not understand.
Thanks for sharing your ideas.
EGFR activation is independent of endocytosis under the persistent presence of its ligand. When EGF exists for a long period, EGFR becomes to undergo endocytosis, thereby the amount of EGFR on the cellular membrane decreases. This is referred to as desensitization, in which the susceptibility to the ligand is attenuated to prevent the excessive signal transduction.
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Chemistry
- Pharmacology
- Medical Pharmacology
- Clinical Pharmacology