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ErbB
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<p>The ErbB family of proteins contains four <a href="/facts/Receptor_tyrosine_kinase/1oNWIdV8">receptor tyrosine kinases</a>, structurally related to the <a href="/facts/Epidermal_growth_factor_receptor/NLmnXKYY">epidermal growth factor receptor</a> (EGFR), its first discovered member. In humans, the family includes Her1 (EGFR, <a href="/facts/ErbB1/NLmnXKYY">ErbB1</a>), Her2 (<a href="/facts/ErbB2/xue3SgcA">ErbB2</a>), Her3 (<a href="/facts/ErbB3/Ds6nd7xf">ErbB3</a>), and Her4 (<a href="/facts/ErbB4/7DJ8B0xn">ErbB4</a>). The gene symbol, ErbB, is derived from the name of a viral oncogene to which these receptors are homologous: erythroblastic leukemia viral oncogene. Insufficient ErbB signaling in humans is associated with the development of <a href="/facts/Neurodegenerative_disease/HTDrVEqc">neurodegenerative diseases</a>, such as <a href="/facts/Multiple_sclerosis/vghXl0IQ">multiple sclerosis</a> and <a href="/facts/Alzheimer%2527s_disease/w7Ad6tdg">Alzheimer's disease</a>, while excessive ErbB signaling is associated with the development of a wide variety of types of solid <a href="/facts/Tumor/K0ytzmPz">tumor</a>. </p><p>ErbB protein family signaling is important for development. For example, ErbB-2 and ErbB-4 knockout mice die at midgestation leads to deficient cardiac function associated with a lack of myocardial ventricular trabeculation and display abnormal development of the peripheral nervous system. In ErbB-3 receptor mutant mice, they have less severe defects in the heart and thus are able to survive longer throughout embryogenesis. Lack of <a href="/facts/Schwann_cell/fcdM1444">Schwann cell</a> maturation leads to degeneration of motor and sensory neurons. Excessive ErbB signaling is associated with the development of a wide variety of types of solid <a href="/facts/Tumor/K0ytzmPz">tumor</a>. ErbB-1 and ErbB-2 are found in many human <a href="/facts/Cancer/PVW6n1D0">cancers</a>, and their excessive signaling may be critical factors in the development and <a href="/facts/Malignancy/L03QLSbE">malignancy</a> of these <a href="/facts/Tumor/K0ytzmPz">tumors</a>. </p>