Transactivation of the EGF Receptor: Is the PDGF Receptor an Unexpected Accomplice?

Abstract

Saito et al. have observed that the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and the platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR) can heterodimerize at the plasma membrane and transduce signals that are measured by changes in ERK activation. Are these signaling outputs physiologically relevant? Graves, Han, and Earp discuss the observations made by Saito et al., and put forth possible mechanistic models of crosstalk between the EGFR and PDGFR. Such heterodimerization, if tightly regulated, likely has a role in normal cell physiology. There are also implications for carcinogenesis.