| 摘要 |
In accordance with the present invention, there are provided novel receptor proteins characterized by having the following domains, reading from the N-terminal end of said protein: an extracellular, ligand-binding domain, a hydrophobic, trans-membrane domain, and an intracellular, receptor domain having serine kinase-like activity. The invention receptors optionally further comprise a second hydrophobic domain at the amino terminus thereof. The invention receptor proteins are further characterized by having sufficient binding affinity for at least one member of the activin/TGF- beta superfamily of polypeptide growth factors such that concentrations of </=10 nM of said polypeptide growth factor occupy >/=50% of the binding sites of said receptor protein. A presently preferred member of the invention superfamily of receptors binds specifically to activins, in preference to inhibins, transforming growth factory- beta , and other non-activin-like proteins. DNA sequences encoding such receptors, assays employing same, as well as antibodies derived therefrom, are also disclosed.
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