TEK tyrosine kinase


Angiopoietin-1 receptor also known as CD202B is a protein that in humans is encoded by the TEK gene. Also known as TIE2, it is an angiopoietin receptor.

Function

The TEK receptor tyrosine kinase is expressed almost exclusively in endothelial cells in mice, rats, and humans.
This receptor possesses a unique extracellular domain containing 2 immunoglobulin-like loops separated by 3 epidermal growth factor-like repeats that are connected to 3 fibronectin type III-like repeats. The ligand for the receptor is angiopoietin-1. TEK has also been suggested as a marker for nucleus pulposus progenitor cells, from the intervertebral disc, which upon activation by Angiopoietin-1 starts to multiply and differentiate.
Defects in TEK are associated with inherited venous malformations; the TEK signaling pathway appears to be critical for endothelial cell-smooth muscle cell communication in venous morphogenesis.

Interactions

TEK tyrosine kinase has been shown to interact with: