Direct ligand for ERBB3 and ERBB4 tyrosine kinase receptors. Concomitantly recruits ERBB1 and ERBB2 coreceptors, resulting in ligand-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation and activation of the ERBB receptors. The multiple isoforms perform diverse functions such as inducing growth and differentiation of epithelial, glial, neuronal, and skeletal muscle cells; inducing expression of acetylcholine receptor in synaptic vesicles during the formation of the neuromuscular junction; stimulating lobuloalveolar budding and milk production in the mammary gland and inducing differentiation of mammary tumor cells; stimulating Schwann cell proliferation; implication in the development of the myocardium such as trabeculation of the developing heart. Isoform 10 may play a role in motor and sensory neuron development.

Type I isoforms are the predominant forms expressed in the endocardium. Isoform alpha is expressed in breast, ovary, testis, prostate, heart, skeletal muscle, lung, placenta liver, kidney, salivary gland, small intestine and brain, but not in uterus, stomach, pancreas, and spleen. Isoform 3 is the predominant form in mesenchymal cells and in non-neuronal organs, whereas isoform 6 is the major neuronal form. Isoform 8 is expressed in spinal cord and brain. Isoform 9 is the major form in skeletal muscle cells; in the nervous system it is expressed in spinal cord and brain. Also detected in adult heart, placenta, lung, liver, kidney, and pancreas. Isoform 10 is expressed in nervous system: spinal cord motor neurons, dorsal root ganglion neurons, and brain. Predominant isoform expressed in sensory and motor neurons. Not detected in adult heart, placenta, lung, liver, skeletal muscle, kidney, and pancreas. Not expressed in fetal lung, liver and kidney. Type IV isoforms are brain-specific.

Note=A chromosomal aberration involving NRG1 produces gamma-heregulin. Translocation t(8;11) with ODZ4. The translocation fuses the 5'-end of ODZ4 to NRG1 (isoform 8). The product of this translocation was first thought to be an alternatively spliced isoform. Gamma-heregulin is a soluble activating ligand for the ERBB2-ERBB3 receptor complex and acts as an autocrine growth factor in a specific breast cancer cell line (MDA-MB-175). Not detected in breast carcinoma samples, including ductal, lobular, medullary, and mucinous histological types, neither in other breast cancer cell lines.

Belongs to the neuregulin family.
Contains 1 EGF-like domain.
Contains 1 Ig-like C2-type (immunoglobulin-like) domain.

Detectable at early embryonic ages. Isoform 10 is highly expressed in developing spinal motor neurons and in developing cranial nerve nuclei. Expression is maintained only in both adult motor neurons and dorsal root ganglion neurons. Type IV isoforms are expressed in fetal brain.

The cytoplasmic domain may be involved in the regulation of trafficking and proteolytic processing. Regulation of the proteolytic processing involves initial intracellular domain dimerization.
ERBB receptor binding is elicited entirely by the EGF-like domain.

Proteolytic cleavage close to the plasma membrane on the external face leads to the release of the soluble growth factor form.
N- and O-glycosylated. Extensive glycosylation precedes the proteolytic cleavage.

Secreted; Cell membrane. Does not seem to be active; Membrane. May possess an internal uncleaved signal sequence; Nucleus. May be nuclear and Secreted. Has a signal peptide.