Transforming Growth Factor beta

**Definition:** A factor synthesized in a wide variety of tissues. It acts synergistically with TGF-alpha in inducing phenotypic transformation and can also act as a negative autocrine growth factor. TGF-beta has a potential role in embryonal development, cellular differentiation, hormone secretion, and immune function. TGF-beta is found mostly as homodimer forms of separate gene products TGF-beta1, TGF-beta2 or TGF-beta3. Heterodimers composed of TGF-beta1 and 2 (TGF-beta1.2) or of TGF-beta2 and 3 (TGF-beta2.3) have been isolated. The TGF-beta proteins are synthesized as precursor proteins.

**Tree numbers:** - D12.644.276.374.687 - D12.644.276.954.775 - D12.776.467.374.687 - D12.776.467.942.775 - D23.529.374.687 - D23.529.942.775

**Synonyms:** - Platelet Transforming Growth Factor - Bone-Derived Transforming Growth Factor - TGF-beta - TGFbeta - Milk Growth Factor