Tropomyosin receptor kinase A, Tropomyosin receptor kinase B, Tropomyosin receptor kinase C (TrkA, TrkB, TrkC)

Tropomyosin receptor kinases are a family of transmembrane receptor tyrosine kinases (TrkA, TrkB, TrkC) encoded by the genes NTRK1, NTRK2, and NTRK3, respectively. Each receptor consists of an extracellular ligand-binding domain, a transmembrane region, and an intracellular tyrosine kinase domain. They serve as high-affinity receptors for specific neurotrophins: TrkA for nerve growth factor (NGF), TrkB for brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and neurotrophin-4/5 (NT-4/5), and TrkC for neurotrophin-3 (NT-3). Upon ligand binding, receptors dimerize and autophosphorylate, initiating intracellular signaling cascades that regulate neuronal survival, differentiation, and synaptic function. Dysregulation, especially gene fusions involving NTRK genes, leads to oncogenic signaling in various cancers, making these kinases high-priority drug targets in precision oncology.

Other names

Neurotrophic tyrosine kinase receptor type 1NTRK1NGF receptorNeurotrophic tyrosine kinase receptor type 2NTRK2BDNF receptorNeurotrophic tyrosine kinase receptor type 3NTRK3NT-3 growth factor receptor

Inhibition of kinase activity of TrkA, TrkB, or TrkC receptors, resulting in blockade of neurotrophin-driven downstream signaling pathways (such as RAS/MAPK, PI3K/AKT, PLCγ)