Activins Family
Activins, members of the TGF-beta superfamily, are disulfide-linked dimeric proteins originally
purified from gonadal fluids as proteins that stimulated pituitary follicle stimulating hormone
(FSH) release. Identified in 1986, activin enhances FSH biosynthesis and secretion, and
participates in the regulation of the menstrual cycle. Many other functions have been found to
be exerted by activin, including roles in cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, metabolism,
homeostasis, immune response, wound repair, and endocrine function.
Activin is a dimer composed of two identical or very similar beta subunits. However, in contrast
to activin, the second component of the inhibin dimer is a more distantly-related alpha subunit.
The activin protein complexes are both dimeric in structure, and, in each complex, the two
monomers are linked to one another by a single disulfide bond.
https://www.creative-diagnostics.com/activins-family.htm