A subset of Receptor Tyrosine Kinases (RTK) with intracellular pseudokinase domains, called RTK-like pseudokinases, have recently emerged as critical regulators of Wnt signalling pathway that regulates epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT), a process that controls planar cell polarity, cell-cell adhesion and enables the initiation of metastasis for cancer progression. Despite lacking catalytic activities, RTK-like are thought to act as crucial modulators of bona fide RTKs. However the precise mechanism by which RTK-like orchestrate RTK activity remains largely elusive. We are using an integrated approach that includes targeted genome editing technologies, chemical biology and structural biology to fully elucidate the biological function of RTK-like pseudokinases during development and cancer.

Team members:
Dr Isabelle Lucet, Chemical Biology Division
Dr James Murphy, Cell Signaling and Cell Death Division