Met Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Activation Studied at the Single-Molecule Level

Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTK) regulate essential processes in vertebrate development, proliferation, and motility. Dysregulation of RTK signaling pathways is often observed in cancer and other diseases. One receptor tyrosine kinase that is increasingly the focus of current research is the MET receptor. Beside its physiological ligand hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor, MET is also targeted by internalin B (InlB), which is expressed by the pathogenic bacterium Listeria monocytogenes, as a pathway to invade epithelial cells. A molecular understanding of the activation and signaling initiation of MET is crucial for targeted therapy