FGF-1

FGF-1, the founding acidic FGF (aFGF), is unusual among the family in binding all four signaling FGFRs and in lacking a conventional signal peptide. It is released through a non-classical export pathway involving S100A13 and synaptotagmin-1, and its activity is strongly potentiated by heparin and heparan sulfate. FGF-1 is expressed widely in brain, retina and mesenchymal tissues, where it promotes endothelial and fibroblast proliferation, angiogenesis and wound repair. A receptor-independent intracellular form modulates p53 activity. Recombinant FGF-1 is a versatile mitogen for cell culture, a positive control for pan-FGFR activation and a candidate scaffold for biomaterial-assisted tissue engineering.