MERTK [SR29-07] Antibody

MerTK, also called c-Mer, is a member of the Mer/Axl/Tyro3 receptor kinase family. It is a 984 residue transmembrane protein made up of one tyrosine kinase domain, two Fibronectin type-III domains and two immunoglobulin-like C2-type domains. MerTK is the mammalian ortholog of the chicken retroviral oncogene product v-Eyk. This protein plays a critical role in macrophage activation, platelet aggregation, clot stability and the efficient removal of apoptotic cells. Specifically, MerTK acts as a signaling molecule, triggering outer segment ingestion in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) phagocytic process. Evidence suggests that MerTK signals via interaction with phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C 2 (PI-PLC 2) . When the gene encoding for MerTK is mutated, the RPE phagocytosis pathway is disrupted and autosomal recessive retinitis pigmentosa (RP) may result, leading to degeneration of retinal photoreceptor cells.