Kinase ligand binding

Some transmembrane receptors possess intrinsic tyrosine kinase activity. These receptors are known as receptor tyrosine kinases. Ligand binding to an extracellular domain of the receptor is coupled to the stimulation of tyrosine kinase activity localized on a cytoplasmic receptor domain. The ligand binding domain and the tyrosine kinase domain are part of one and the same protein. 

Tvrosine kinases Ligand binding (EGF, PDGF, insulin, etc.) Tvrphostins... 

Two receptor classes, cytokine receptors and receptor tyrosine kinases, transduce signals via their associated or intrinsic protein tyrosine kinases. Ligand binding triggers formation of functional dimeric receptors and phosphorylation of the activation lip in the kinases, enhancing their catalytic activity (see Figure 14-5). 

We have previously calculated conformational free energy differences for a well-suited model system, the catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (cAPK), which is the best characterized member of the protein kinase family. It has been crystallized in three different conformations and our main focus was on how ligand binding shifts the equilibrium among these ([Helms and McCammon 1997]). As an example using state-of-the-art computational techniques, we summarize the main conclusions of this study and discuss a variety of methods that may be used to extend this study into the dynamic regime of protein domain motion. 

Helms and McCammon 1997] Helms, V., McCammon, J.A. Kinase Conformations A computational study of the effect of ligand binding. Prot. Sci. 6 (1997) 2336-2343... 

Besides cytoplasmic protein kinases, membrane receptors can exert protein kinase activity. These so-called receptor tyrosine kinases (RTK) contain a ligandbinding extracellular domain, a transmembrane motif, and an intracellular catalytic domain with specificity for tyrosine residues. Upon ligand binding and subsequent receptor oligomerization, the tyrosine residues of the intracellular domain become phosphory-lated by the intrinsic tyrosine kinase activity of the receptor [3, 4]. The phosphotyrosine residues ftmction as docking sites for other proteins that will transmit the signal received by the RTK. 

FIGURE 4.2 Receptor tyrosine kinase dimerization. Binding of monomeric or dimeric ligands to RTK monomers leads to formation and stabilization of activated RTK dimers. Cytoplasmic domains of RTK are trans-phosphorylated by active FTK. 

STRUCTURAL STUDIES OF RECEPTOR TYROSINE KINASES 4.5.1 Ligand-Binding Domains... 

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