protein_function: Receptor tyrosine kinase that transduces signals fromthe extracellular matrix into the cytoplasm by binding to severalligands including LGALS3, TUB, TULP1 or GAS6. Regulates manyphysiological processes including cell survival, migration,differentiation, and phagocytosis of apoptotic cells(efferocytosis). Ligand binding at the cell surface inducesautophosphorylation of MERTK on its intracellular domain thatprovides docking sites for downstream signaling molecules.Following activation by ligand, interacts with GRB2 or PLCG2 andinduces phosphorylation of MAPK1, MAPK2, FAK,PTK2 or RAC1. MERTKsignaling plays a role in various processes such as macrophageclearance of apoptotic cells, platelet aggregation, cytoskeletonreorganization and engulfment. Functions in the retinal pigmentepithelium (RPE) as a regulator of rod outer segments fragmentsphagocytosis. Plays also an important role in inhibition of Toll-like receptors (TLRs)-mediated innate immune response byactivating STAT1, which selectively induces production ofsuppressors of cytokine signaling SOCS1 and SOCS3..
Proto-oncogene tyrosine-protein kinase MER is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the MERTK gene. This gene is a member of the MER,AXL,TYRO3 receptor kinase family and encodes a transmembrane protein with two fibronectin type-III domains, two Ig-like C2-type(immunoglobulin-like) domains, and one tyrosine kinase domain. Its gene is mapped to chromosome 2q14.1. Mer encodes a 984-amino acid protein with a calculated molecular mass of 109 kD. It is expressed in numerous neoplastic B- and T-cell lines. Mutations in this gene have been associated with disruption of the retinal pigment epithelium(RPE) phagocytosis pathway and onset of autosomal recessive retinitis pigmentosa(RP)
