Motogenic and morphogenic activity of epithelial receptor tyrosine kinases.

Motogenic and morphogenic activity of epithelial receptor tyrosine kinases

Receptor tyrosine kinases play essential roles in morphogenesis and differentiation of epithelia. Here we examined various tyrosine kinase receptors, which are preferentially expressed in epithelia (c-met, c-ros, c-neu, and the keratin growth factor [KGF] receptor), for their capacity to induce cell motility and branching morphogenesis of epithelial cells. We exchanged the ligand-binding domain...

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