Optical membrane studies on the functionality and biophysics of Bruton's tyrosine kinase.

Abstract

Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk) is a receptor tyrosine kinase whose intracellular localization and signaling activities are dependent on membrane lipid composition, as well as intra-and intermolecular protein domain contacts. In these studies we use fluorescence microscopy, among other optical techniques, to better understand the prerequisites and consequences of these interactions. Membrane recruitment kinetics, as well as the dynamics of the protein once it has been recruited to the membrane, can be characterized and quantified in an effort to gain mechanistic insight into the function, and dysfunction, of the multivariate regulation of Btk.