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Fas ligand: receptor or ligand?

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Abstract

In this review, we chronicle the discovery, biochemical characterization, and assignment of Fas (CD95) as receptor and Fas Ligand (FasL, CD95L) as ligand. We review the functional descriptions of the molecules as death-inducing receptor and ligand or as mediators of cell division and/or growth arrest. We suggest that bidirectional mediation of signals in receptor-ligand pairs may be a common and important mechanism regulating cell fate. Bidirectional signaling clearly impacts the interpretation of experimental studies of intercellular communication.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, University of Vermont, College of Medicine, Burlington, VT, 05405, USA

    M. K. Newell & J. Desbarats

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  1. M. K. Newell
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  2. J. Desbarats
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Newell, M.K., Desbarats, J. Fas ligand: receptor or ligand?. Apoptosis 4, 311–315 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009670802382

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