Function
High affinity nerve growth factor receptor (TrkA) is a tyrosine kinase receptor. Trk stands for Topomyosin-Related Kinase. TrkA ligand - nerve growth factor activates the receptor by stabilizing homodimer formation which initiates transautophosphorylation[1]. See also Neurotrophin.
Relevance
TrkA has a role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis and its inhibitors are studied in the development of novel therapeutics for the disease[1]. TrkA inhibition may be a novel therapeutic approach to Alzheimer disease[2] and a new method to treat intractable pain[3].
Structural highlights
. An , conserved in all neutrophins, forms the most important binding determinant between TrkA and its ligand - nerve growth factor - which forms the active homodimer of the receptor[4], [5]. .