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Tyrosine Kinase Receptors

Meaning

Tyrosine Kinase Receptors (RTKs) are a critical class of high-affinity, cell surface receptors that successfully mediate the biological effects of numerous polypeptide growth factors, various cytokines, and key metabolic hormones, most notably insulin and the insulin-like growth factors. These receptors are uniquely characterized by an extracellular domain responsible for ligand binding and an intracellular domain possessing intrinsic tyrosine kinase enzymatic activity. RTKs are fundamental to regulating essential cellular processes like growth, differentiation, metabolism, and survival, making them absolutely critical in both normal physiology and various disease states.