Phosphoproteomic studies of receptor tyrosine kinases: future perspectives

Evolution of Receptor Tyrosine Kinases

Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) are important molecules for communication of cells in multicellular animals. It is therefore not surprising that the basal metazoans, like Hydra and sponges, already have a well-developed repertoire of RTKs. Even the choanofl agellate Monosiga brevicollis , a unicellular eukaryote from a group of protozoa that are thought to represent the ancestors of metazoa or...

Receptor tyrosine kinases in carcinogenesis

Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) are cell surface glycoproteins with enzymatic activity involved in the regulation of various important functions. In all-important physiological functions including differentiation, cell-cell interactions, survival, proliferation, metabolism, migration and signaling these receptors are the key players of regulation. Additionally, mutations of RTKs or their overe...

Non-receptor protein tyrosine kinases.

The protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs) are enzymes catalyzing the transfer of the gamma-phosphate group of ATP to the hydroxyl groups of specific tyrosine residues in peptides. Although phosphotransfer reactions catalyzed by various PTKs are similar with regard to their basic mechanisms, their biological functions demonstrate a considerable degree of specificity. PTKs are divided into two groups a...

Receptor Tyrosine Kinases — Expanding Horizons

Activation of Ras by receptor tyrosine kinases.

Ras, a small GTP-binding protein, is an important component of the signal transduction pathway used by growth factors to initiate cell growth and differentiation. Cell activation with growth factors such as epidermal growth factor (EGF) induces Ras to move from an inactive GDP-bound state to an active GTP-bound state. Recently, a combination of genetic and biochemical studies has resulted in th...