EGFR配体生物学效应的多样性

表皮生长因子受体（epidermal growth factor receptor, EGFR）的配体作为一类重要的信号分子参与了细胞功能的调节，并且和机体发育、器官形成、组织修复与稳态维持，以及疾病的发生密切相关。虽然这些信号分子具有序列和结构上的相似性，但由于这些信号分子结构上的细微差异以及它们受体信号传导上的复杂性，造成了这些信号分子（配体）生物学效应的多样性。目前，从结构和机制上，对于单个信号分子的生物学效应已有较为深入的研究，但这些信号分子之间以及信号分子与受体之间的调控网络较为复杂，并且这种调控网络对信号的精细、有序和多样化转导至关重要。本文对EGFR配体的结构及配体生物学效应多样性的分子机制进行回顾，并对未来的研究方向提出展望。

Diversified Biological Effects of EGFR Ligands

The ligands of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), a class of secreted or membrane-bound signaling molecules, are involved in the regulation of various cellular functions. As such, they play important roles in development, organogenesis, tissue repair and homeostasis, and development of human diseases. These signaling molecules share sequence and structural similarity, but the subtle differences in their structures and the complexity in their receptor signaling collectively make their functions to be overlapped and diversified. Currently, the structure and the function of each single ligand of the EGFR had been characterized. However, these ligands could interactively regulate the signaling of each other through feedback loops and downstream signaling networks. With the complexity of these regulations, the diversified signaling through the EGFR could be precisely controlled in an ordered, spatiotemporal manner by various ligands. Herein, we reviewed the progress in the studies of EGFR ligands, especially the structures and mechanisms that give them the abilities to generate diversified biological effects. Moreover, we provided our perspectives for the future research directions in this field.