Structure of a c-Kit Product Complex Reveals the Basis for Kinase Transactivation.
Mol, C.D., Lim, K.B., Sridhar, V., Zou, H., Chien, E.Y.T., Sang, B.-C., Nowakowski, J., Kassel, D.B., Cronin, C.N., McRee, D.E.(2003) J Biol Chem 278: 31461-31464
- PubMed: 12824176 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.C300186200
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
1PKG - PubMed Abstract: 
The c-Kit proto-oncogene is a receptor protein-tyrosine kinase associated with several highly malignant human cancers. Upon binding its ligand, stem cell factor (SCF), c-Kit forms an active dimer that autophosphorylates itself and activates a signaling cascade that induces cell growth. Disease-causing human mutations that activate SCF-independent constitutive expression of c-Kit are found in acute myelogenous leukemia, human mast cell disease, and gastrointestinal stromal tumors. We report on the phosphorylation state and crystal structure of a c-Kit product complex. The c-Kit structure is in a fully active form, with ordered kinase activation and phosphate-binding loops. These results provide key insights into the molecular basis for c-Kit kinase transactivation to assist in the design of new competitive inhibitors targeting activated mutant forms of c-Kit that are resistant to current chemotherapy regimes.
Organizational Affiliation: 
Syrrx, Inc., San Diego, California 92121, USA.