Receptor-type tyrosine-protein phosphatase U (PTPRU)

Receptor-type tyrosine-protein phosphatase U (PTPRU) is a cell surface receptor protein encoded by the human PTPRU gene. It is part of the R2B subfamily of receptor-type protein tyrosine phosphatases and features extracellular domains enabling cell-cell interactions, as well as two intracellular phosphatase domains. Unlike typical receptor-type PTPs, structural and biochemical studies show both PTPRU domains lack phosphatase activity and instead function as pseudophosphatase scaffolds. PTPRU regulates cellular processes—not by dephosphorylation but by protecting shared substrates from dephosphorylation, fine-tuning cell junction formation, growth, differentiation, and signaling, and is involved in pathological contexts including tumor progression

Other names

PTPRUReceptor-type protein-tyrosine phosphatase UPTP piPCP-2hPTP-JPTPROPTP psiPancreatic carcinoma phosphatase 2Protein-tyrosine phosphatase JProtein-tyrosine phosphatase piReceptor-type protein-tyrosine phosphatase omicronR-PTP-UPCP2PTP-JFMI

Scaffold or substrate competitor, not enzymatic dephosphorylation Functions as a negative regulator by sequestering protein substrates such as β-catenin from active phosphatases, thereby protecting phosphotyrosine states relevant to cell adhesion and signal transduction