Adapter molecule crk also known asproto-oncogene c-Crk is aprotein that in humans is encoded by theCRKgene.[5]
The CRK protein participates in theReelin signaling cascade downstream ofDAB1.[6][7]
Adapter molecule crk is a member of anadapter protein family that binds to several tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins. This protein has severalSH2 andSH3 domains (src-homology domains) and is involved in several signaling pathways, recruiting cytoplasmic proteins in the vicinity oftyrosine kinase through SH2-phosphotyrosine interaction. TheN-terminal SH2 domain of this protein functions as a positive regulator of transformation whereas theC-terminal SH3 domain functions as a negative regulator of transformation. Two alternative transcripts encoding different isoforms with distinct biological activity have been described.[8]
Crk together withCrkL participates in theReelin signaling cascade downstream ofDAB1.[6][7]
v-Crk, a transforming oncoprotein from avian sarcoma viruses, is a fusion of viral "gag" protein with the SH2 and SH3 domains of cellular Crk.[9] The name Crk is from "CT10 Regulator of Kinase" where CT10 is the avian virus from which was isolated a protein, lacking kinase domains, but capable of stimulating phosphorylation of tyrosines in cells.[10]
Crk should not be confused withSrc, which also has cellular (c-Src) and viral (v-Src) forms and is involved in some of the same signaling pathways but is a protein tyrosine-kinase.
CRK (gene) has been shown tointeract with: