Active vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor, illustration. The VEGF receptor (blue) is a transmembrane protein, that has become activated through the binding of VEGF (red). VEGF binding induces structural changes within the receptor. These changes trigger a biochemical chain of events inside the cell (signal transduction). VEGF promotes blood vessel formation (angiogenesis). It affects cancer proliferation, wound healing and other physiological processes.