Background information
Src is the human homolog of the v-Src gene of the rous sarcoma virus, also designated avian sarcoma virus or ASV. Src was the first proto-oncogenic non-receptor tyrosine kinase characterized in human. The Src family, which has common structural motifs, is composed of nine members in vertebrates, including Src, Yes, Fgr, Frk, Fyn, Lyn, Hck, Lck and Blk. Src-family kinases transduce signals that are involved in the control of a variety of cellular processes, including proliferation, differentiation, motility and adhesion. Src-family ki-nases contain an amino-terminal cell membrane anchor followed by an SH3 domain and an SH2 domain, which are involved in modular association and activation, respectively. Src-family kinases, which are normally maintained in an inactive state and can be activated transiently during cellular events such as mitosis. Different subcellular localizations of Src-family kinases may be important for the regulation of specific cellular processes such as mitogenesis, cytoskeletal organization and membrane trafficking. c-Fgr is a human non-receptor tyrosine kinase family member that was discovered by using a probe toward the v-Fgr portion of the cell-derived domain of Gardner-Rasheed feline sarcoma virus. The human c-Fgr gene encodes a 529 amino acid protein.
