While many studies attest a role for betacellulin in the differentiation of pancreatic β-cells, the last decade witnessed the association of betacellulin with many additional biological processes, ranging from reproduction to the control of neural stem cells.

It is synthesized primarily as a transmembrane precursor, which is then processed to mature molecule by proteolytic events.

[6] As a typical EGFR ligand, betacellulin is expressed by a variety of cell types and tissues, the post-translation of the betacellulin can ectodomain shedding, and the proteolytic release the soluble factors can bind and activate the homodimer or heterodimer of the ERBB receptors.

The membrane-anchored form of the betacellulin can activate the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR).

[10] This article incorporates text from the United States National Library of Medicine, which is in the public domain.