Non-receptor Tyrosine Kinase

Non-receptor Tyrosine Kinase

Non-receptor tyrosine kinases (nRTKs) are cytoplasmic enzymes that are responsible for catalysing the transfer of a phosphate group from a nucleoside triphosphate donor, such as ATP, to a tyrosine residues in proteins. Non-receptor tyrosine kinases are a subgroup of protein family tyrosine kinases, enzymes that can transfer the phosphate group from ATP to a protein (phosphorylation). These enzymes regulate many cellular functions by switching on or switching off other enzymes in a cell.

Unlike the receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs), the second subgroup of tyrosine kinases, the non-receptor tyrosine kinases are cytoplasmic enzymes. There was found 32 non-receptor tyrosine kinases in a human cells (EC 2.7.10.2). Non-receptor tyrosine kinases regulate for example cell's growth, proliferation, differentiation, adhesion, migration and apoptosis and they are critical components in the regulation of the immune system.