Dictionary.net

Retrovirus-associated DNA sequences (ERYTHROBLASTOSIS VIRUS, AVIAN, hence erbA) originally isolated from the avian erythroblastosis virus. The c-erbA proto-oncogene encodes the thyroid hormone receptors (RECEPTORS, THYROID HORMONE). Two distinct c-erbA proto-oncogenes have been identified, erbA-alpha and erbA-beta, each giving rise to at least two proteins. erbA-alpha is located at 17q21 on the long arm of chromosome 17. erbA-beta is located at 3p24 on the short arm of chromosome 3. The v-erbA oncogene potentiates cell transformation through inhibition of spontaneous differentiation of cells already transformed by the v-erbB gene and eliminates growth requirements of transformed erythroblasts.