The protein we are focusing one is a protein kinase receptor to a family of ligands called angiopoietins. This receptor is a Tyrosine Kinase TIE2.
It acts as cell-surface receptor for the ligands ANGPT1, ANGPT2 and ANGPT4 and regulates among others angiogenesis, endothelial cell survival and maintenance of vascular quiescence. It is important in the regulation of both normal physiologic and pathologic angiogenesis. The later is a fundamental step in the transition of tumors from a benign state to a malignant one.
Angiogenesis is the process in which new blood vessels are formed from pre-existing blood vessels. The growth of these new blood vessels requires migration and proliferation of endothelial cells (ECs). It is an event controlled by angiogenic growth factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).
While ANGPT1 is a TIE2 agonist and has a higher binding affinity to it than ANGPT2, ANGPT2 can act as a context-dependent agonist. Thus, the ANGPT/TIE2 kinase signaling pathway is an attractive anti-vascular target.
Be careful with the < and > signs.
You may include any references to papers as in: the use of JSmol in Proteopedia [1] or to the article describing Jmol [2] to the rescue.
Function
Disease
Relevance
Structural highlights
This is a sample scene created with SAT to by Group, and another to make of the protein. You can make your own scenes on SAT starting from scratch or loading and editing one of these sample scenes.
