Human HER2
Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 (HER2) is a protein that plays a key role in the development of several types of cancer.
Function
Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 (HER2), also known as ErbB2, is a member of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor family of receptor tyrosine kinases. It is involved in signal transduction pathways that regulate cell growth, survival, and differentiation. Overexpression of HER2 is a key driver in the development and progression of certain aggressive types of breast cancer and other cancers.
Structure
Human HER2 has a similar overall structure to other ErbB family members, with an extracellular domain, transmembrane region, and intracellular kinase domain. The extracellular domain contains multiple subdomains that are important for dimerization and interaction with therapeutic antibodies like trastuzumab (Herceptin).