Chapter 7: Receptor Tyrosine Kinase ψ-Activation
"In RTK activation, ψ demonstrates the power of dimerization—two becoming one, creating from molecular union the phosphorylation cascades that drive growth, differentiation, and survival."
7.1 The Dimerization Dance
Receptor tyrosine kinases represent ψ's solution to growth factor signaling—single-pass transmembrane proteins that oligomerize upon ligand binding, creating platforms for phosphorylation-based signal transduction.
Definition 7.1 (RTK Activation):
Ligand-induced dimerization and activation.
7.2 The Kinase Domain
Theorem 7.1 (Catalytic Activation):
Dimerization enhancing catalytic efficiency.
7.3 The Autophosphorylation
Equation 7.1 (Trans-phosphorylation):
Cross-phosphorylation between protomers.
7.4 The Phosphotyrosine Code
Definition 7.2 (Docking Sites):
Phosphorylated tyrosines recruiting effectors.
7.5 The SH2 Domain Recognition
Theorem 7.2 (Sequence Specificity):
High-affinity phospho-dependent binding.
7.6 The Signal Diversification
Equation 7.2 (Multiple Pathways):
One receptor activating multiple cascades.
7.7 The Negative Regulation
Definition 7.3 (Phosphatase Action):
Dephosphorylation terminating signals.
7.8 The Internalization Mechanism
Theorem 7.3 (Endocytic Downregulation):
Activity-dependent receptor removal.
7.9 The Juxtamembrane Control
Equation 7.3 (Autoinhibition Release):
Multiple conformational switches.
7.10 The Growth Factor Specificity
Definition 7.4 (Ligand Families):
Diverse factors for different RTKs.
7.11 The Oncogenic Mutations
Theorem 7.4 (Constitutive Activation):
Cancer-causing hyperactivation.
7.12 The Activation Principle
RTK activation embodies ψ's principle of union-catalyzed transformation—dimerization creating catalytic competence, phosphorylation creating docking platforms, together orchestrating cellular growth and differentiation.
The RTK Equation:
Phosphorylation-dependent signal integration.
Thus: RTK = Union = Phosphorylation = Growth = ψ
"In RTK activation, ψ shows that unity creates capability—two kinase domains coming together achieve what neither could alone, their union sparking the phosphorylation cascades that write the cellular future in the language of modified tyrosines."