Protein tyrosine kinase 2 beta (PTK2B) mRNA (PTK2B)

Protein tyrosine kinase 2 beta (PTK2B), also known as proline-rich tyrosine kinase 2 (PYK2), is a non-receptor tyrosine kinase belonging to the focal adhesion kinase (FAK) family. It is highly expressed in the central nervous system and hematopoietic cells, where it acts as a signaling hub integrating calcium-dependent signals with the actin cytoskeleton and various downstream pathways like MAPK/ERK. PTK2B plays a critical role in regulating cell adhesion, migration, and synaptic plasticity. In the context of disease, PTK2B is a prominent genetic risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer's disease, where it is implicated in amyloid-beta-induced synaptic dysfunction and tau phosphorylation. In oncology, its overexpression promotes tumor cell proliferation, invasion, and resistance to therapy in various cancers, including lung and breast cancer. Therapeutic strategies include small molecule inhibitors like defactinib that block its kinase activity and emerging RNA-targeted approaches, such as antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) and siRNA, designed to reduce its expression or modulate its splicing.

Other names

PYK2Proline-rich tyrosine kinase 2RAFTKCAK-betaCADTKFAK2Cell adhesion kinase beta

Inhibition of kinase activity; mRNA degradation via antisense oligonucleotides or siRNA; Modulation of alternative splicing (e.g., exon 31 skipping)