Bruton's tyrosine kinase
Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) is an enzyme that plays a crucial role in the maturation of B-cells, a type of white blood cell. The enzyme is named after Dr. Ogden Bruton, who first described the condition known as Bruton's agammaglobulinemia, which is caused by mutations in the BTK gene.
Pronunciation
The pronunciation of Bruton's tyrosine kinase is: /ˈbruːtɒnz ˈtaɪrəˌsiːn kaɪˈneɪk/
Etymology
The term "Bruton's tyrosine kinase" is named after Dr. Ogden Bruton, who first described the condition known as Bruton's agammaglobulinemia. The term "tyrosine kinase" refers to the type of enzyme it is, specifically one that can transfer a phosphate group from ATP to a protein in a cell, specifically on a tyrosine residue.
Function
BTK is a type of enzyme that is involved in the maturation of B-cells, a type of white blood cell. It is part of the B-cell receptor signaling pathway, which is crucial for B-cell development, differentiation, and signaling. Mutations in the BTK gene can lead to a condition known as Bruton's agammaglobulinemia, which is characterized by a lack of mature B-cells and, therefore, a severely compromised immune system.
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