What event inside the cell is triggered by the binding of an extracellular ligand to a receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK)?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking about what intracellular event is triggered when an extracellular ligand binds to a receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK). This involves understanding the mechanism of RTK activation and downstream signaling pathways.
Answer
Ligand binding to RTK triggers receptor dimerization and autophosphorylation.
The binding of an extracellular ligand to a receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) triggers receptor dimerization and autophosphorylation of tyrosine residues within the intracellular domain, leading to activation of the receptor's tyrosine kinase activity.
Answer for screen readers
The binding of an extracellular ligand to a receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) triggers receptor dimerization and autophosphorylation of tyrosine residues within the intracellular domain, leading to activation of the receptor's tyrosine kinase activity.
More Information
Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) are transmembrane receptors that play a role in cell signaling pathways, influencing cell growth, differentiation, and survival. The process of autophosphorylation is crucial for initiating downstream signaling cascades.
Tips
A common mistake is to only mention one event (dimerization or autophosphorylation) without including both.
Sources
- Cell signaling by receptor-tyrosine kinases - PMC - PubMed Central - pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Receptor Tyrosine Kinase - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics - sciencedirect.com
- Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) Signaling - Sigma-Aldrich - sigmaaldrich.com
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