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Tyrosine Kinase Activation

Meaning

Tyrosine kinase activation is a fundamental mechanism of signal transduction involving the enzymatic addition of a phosphate group to specific tyrosine residues on target proteins, a process known as phosphorylation. This activation is a crucial step in transmitting signals from outside the cell, such as those initiated by growth factors like insulin or IGF-1, across the cell membrane to the nucleus. The phosphorylation cascade effectively acts as an “on” switch, regulating cellular processes including growth, proliferation, and metabolic activity. Dysregulation of this activation is implicated in numerous pathologies, including metabolic disorders and malignancy.