Targeting Pyk2 for therapeutic intervention.

ABSTRACT:

Importance of the field

The focal adhesion tyrosine kinases FAK and Pyk2 are uniquely situated to act as critical mediators for the activation of signaling pathways that regulate cell migration, proliferation and survival. By coordinating adhesion and cytoskeletal dynamics with survival and growth signaling, FAK and Pyk2 represent molecular therapeutic targets in cancer as malignant cells often exhibit defects in these processes.

Areas covered in this review

This review examines the structure and function of the focal adhesion kinase Pyk2 and intends to provide a rationale for the employment of modulating strategies that include both catalytic and extra-catalytic approaches that have been developed in the last 3 - 5 years.

What the reader will gain

Targeting tyrosine

SUBMITTER: Lipinski CA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2943731 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature