The official name of the FGFR3 gene is fibroblast growth factor receptor 3.
The FGFR3 gene makes a protein called fibroblast growth factor receptor 3. This protein is part of the family of fibroblast growth factor receptors. These proteins are very similar and play a role in several important cellular functions, which include:
- Regulation of cell growth and division
- Determination of cell type
- Formation of blood vessels
- Wound healing
- Embryo development.
The FGFR3 protein spans the cell membrane, so that one end of the protein remains inside the cell and the other end projects from the outer surface of the cell. This positioning allows the protein to interact with specific growth factors outside the cell and to receive signals that help the cell respond to its environment. When these growth factors attach to the FGFR3 protein, it triggers a cascade of chemical reactions inside the cell that instructs the cell to undergo certain changes, such as maturing to take on specialized functions.
The FGFR3 protein plays a role in the development and maintenance of bone and brain tissue. Researchers believe that this receptor regulates bone growth by limiting the formation of bone from cartilage, particularly in the long bones.
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