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Abstract
Growth factor receptors that are tyrosine kinases (RTKs) regulate growth and differentiation
of cells in many organisms, including flies, worms, frogs, mice and humans. There
has been recent progress in understanding the mechanism by which these receptors transduce
signals. Worm and insect studies on RTKs have relied primarily on genetics, while
the mammalian studies have employed a combination of molecular genetics and biochemistry.
While many RTKs seem to have unique features, there are also many general signal transduction
principles that emerge from these studies. In this review, we will focus on common
signaling molecules, using RTKs from both vertebrates and invertebrates as examples.