title: Receptor tyrosine kinase transmembrane domains: Function, dimer structure and dimerization energetics.
abstract: The transmembrane (TM) domains of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) play an active role in signaling. They contribute to the stability of full-length receptor dimers and to maintaining a signaling-competent dimeric receptor conformation. In an exciting new development, two structures of RTK TM domains have been solved, a break-through achievement in the field. Here we review these structures, and we discuss recent studies of RTK TM domain dimerization energetics, possible synergies between domains, and the effects of pathogenic RTK TM mutations on structure and dimerization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Edwin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Kalina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hristova
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism*; D019281:Dimerization; D006801:Humans; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases