A transmembrane receptor whose cytoplasmic domain includes a tyrosine kinase enzymatic activity. In normal situations, the kinase is activated only on binding of the appropriate ligand to the receptor.
Receptor tyrosine kinases are proteins found in the plasma membrane of the cell. These receptors possess intrinsic tyrosine kinase activity, which is the ability to phosphorylate on a tyrosine residue in a protein. The kinase activity is activated by ligand binding which initiates a signal cascade ultimately leading to alteration in gene expression.
A membrane protein whose extracellular portion binds a neurotrophin. The intracellular portion of the molecule includes a tyrosine protein kinase region, which phosphorylates target proteins when the receptor is occupied.
A class of cellular receptors that modify the amino acid tyrosine in target proteins, leading to the activation of signaling pathways inside the cell.
RTK) Member of an important class of cell-surface receptors whose cytosolic domain has tyrosine-specific protein kinase activity. Ligand binding activates this kinase activity and initiates intracellular signaling pathways. ( Figure 20-23)
The receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) family of cell surface receptors shows a high affinity to numerous growth signals. Although numerous intracellular signaling pathways are shared following activation of the receptors by ligand, the responses may be tightly regulated by ligand-receptor specificity or through variations in responses to specific receptors – the one receptor may induce differing results following stimulation depending on the cell type in which the receptor is expressed.