Question

The phosphorylated tyrosine residues on activated receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) act as scaffolding sites to bring together downstream signaling proteins. What do you think would be the advantage(s) of bringing proteins of the same signaling pathway in close physical proximity to each other?

Answer 1

Receptor Tyrosine kinases (RTKs) are transmembrane signaling protein that acts as receptors for many extracellular cues. When an RTK receptor binds to an extracellular signaling molecule, there is a conformational changes in the RTK resulting in phosphorylation of tyrosine residue by its partner proteins. The phosphorylation of the tyrosine residue act as scaffolding sites and bring many signaling molecules like Src and activating its downstream signaling pathway. The advantages of bringing protein of the same signaling pathway in close physical proximity to each other help in the activation of the downstream signaling protein faster.