Receptor Tyrosine Kinases

Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) are the high-affinity cell surface receptors for many polypeptide growth factors, cytokines, and hormones. RTKs have been shown not only to be key regulators of normal cellular processes but also to have a critical role in the development and progression of many types of cancer. RTKs are part of the larger family of protein tyrosine kinases, encompassing the RTKs proteins which contain a transmembrane domain, as well as the non- RTKs which do not possess transmembrane domains.