THE SRC FAMILY OF TYROSINE PROTEIN-KINASES IN HEMATOPOIETIC SIGNAL-TRANSDUCTION

The Src family of tyrosine protein kinases (TPKs) represents a class of closely related intracellular enzymes that participate in the signal transduction pathways in a variety of hemopoietic cells. The Src TPKs associate with multiple cell surface molecules rendering these receptors capable of activating tyrosine phosphorylation of cellular protein targets. Despite phenotypic differences between various hemopoietic cells, the signal transduction pathways that involve Src TPKs demonstrate clear similarities. Accumulating data on the antigen-induced activation in T cells, B cells, and mast cells indicate that the Src TPKs participate in early antigen receptor responses in these cells.