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Receptor Tyrosine Kinases

Meaning

Receptor Tyrosine Kinases (RTKs) are a class of cell surface receptors that play a crucial role in cellular communication by binding to extracellular polypeptide growth factors and hormones, subsequently initiating a cascade of intracellular signaling events. These transmembrane proteins are characterized by an extracellular ligand-binding domain and an intracellular domain possessing tyrosine kinase enzymatic activity. RTKs are fundamental to regulating cell growth, differentiation, metabolism, and survival, mediating the actions of hormones like insulin and growth factors.