Acetylcholine receptor-inducing activity, ARIA, Breast cancer cell differentiation factor p45, GGF, Glial growth factor, Heregulin, HGL, HRG, HRG1, HRGA, NDF, Neu differentiation factor, Neuregulin1, NRG 1, Pro-neuregulin-1, membrane-bound isoform, Sensory and motor neuron-derived factor, SMDF, NRG1_HUMAN.
The protein encoded by this gene is a membrane glycoprotein that mediates cell-cell signaling and plays a critical role in the growth and development of multiple organ systems. An extraordinary variety of different isoforms are produced from this gene through alternative promoter usage and splicing. These isoforms are expressed in a tissue-specific manner and differ significantly in their structure, and are classified as types I, II, III, IV, V and VI. Dysregulation of this gene has been linked to diseases such as cancer, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder (BPD). The NRG-1 protein binds to and activates the tyrosine kinases receptors ErbB3 and ErbB4, initiating signaling cascades. NRG-1 has multiple functions, for example, in the brain it regulates various processes such as radial glia formation and neuronal migration, dendritic development, and expression of neurotransmitters receptors, in the peripheral nervous system NRG-1 regulates processes such as target cell differentiation, and Schwann cell survival.
