platelet derived growth factor receptor alpha
Last updated 13 Jul 2021
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The PDGFRA gene provides instructions for making a protein called platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRA), which is part of a family of proteins called receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs). Receptor tyrosine kinases transmit signals from the cell surface into the cell through a process called signal transduction. The PDGFRA protein is found in the cell membrane of certain cell types where a specific protein, called platelet-derived growth factor, attaches (binds) to it. This binding turns on (activates) the PDGFRA protein, which then activates other proteins inside the cell by adding a cluster of oxygen and phosphorus atoms (a phosphate group) at specific positions (a process called phosphorylation). This process leads to the activation of a series of proteins in multiple signaling pathways.
Normal function
The PDGFRA gene provides instructions for making a protein called platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRA), which is part of a family of proteins called receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs). Receptor tyrosine kinases transmit signals from the cell surface into the cell through a process called signal transduction. The PDGFRA protein is found in the cell membrane of certain cell types where a specific protein, called platelet-derived growth factor, attaches (binds) to it. This binding turns on (activates) the PDGFRA protein, which then activates other proteins inside the cell by adding a cluster of oxygen and phosphorus atoms (a phosphate group) at specific positions (a process called phosphorylation). This process leads to the activation of a series of proteins in multiple signaling pathways.
The signaling pathways stimulated by the PDGFRA protein control many important cellular processes such as cell growth and division (proliferation) and cell survival. PDGFRA protein signaling is important for the development of many types of cells throughout the body.
Conditions referring to this gene or chromosome
Other names
CD140 antigen-like family member A
CD140A
CD140a antigen
GAS9
PDGFR-alpha
PDGFR2
PGFRA_HUMAN
platelet-derived growth factor receptor 2
platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha
platelet-derived growth factor receptor, alpha polypeptide
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Further reading and references
- platelet derived growth factor receptor alpha; MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine.
- Bain BJ. Relationship between idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome, eosinophilic leukemia, and systemic mastocytosis. Am J Hematol. 2004 Sep;77(1):82-5. doi: 10.1002/ajh.20088.
- Buitenhuis M, Verhagen LP, Cools J, Coffer PJ. Molecular mechanisms underlying FIP1L1-PDGFRA-mediated myeloproliferation. Cancer Res. 2007 Apr 15;67(8):3759-66. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-06-4183.
- Cools J, DeAngelo DJ, Gotlib J, Stover EH, Legare RD, Cortes J, Kutok J, Clark J, Galinsky I, Griffin JD, Cross NC, Tefferi A, Malone J, Alam R, Schrier SL, Schmid J, Rose M, Vandenberghe P, Verhoef G, Boogaerts M, Wlodarska I, Kantarjian H, Marynen P, Coutre SE, Stone R, Gilliland DG. A tyrosine kinase created by fusion of the PDGFRA and FIP1L1 genes as a therapeutic target of imatinib in idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome. N Engl J Med. 2003 Mar 27;348(13):1201-14. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa025217.
- Elling C, Erben P, Walz C, Frickenhaus M, Schemionek M, Stehling M, Serve H, Cross NC, Hochhaus A, Hofmann WK, Berdel WE, Muller-Tidow C, Reiter A, Koschmieder S. Novel imatinib-sensitive PDGFRA-activating point mutations in hypereosinophilic syndrome induce growth factor independence and leukemia-like disease. Blood. 2011 Mar 10;117(10):2935-43. doi: 10.1182/blood-2010-05-286757. Epub 2011 Jan 11.
- Fukushima K, Matsumura I, Ezoe S, Tokunaga M, Yasumi M, Satoh Y, Shibayama H, Tanaka H, Iwama A, Kanakura Y. FIP1L1-PDGFRalpha imposes eosinophil lineage commitment on hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells. J Biol Chem. 2009 Mar 20;284(12):7719-32. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M807489200. Epub 2009 Jan 14.
- Heinrich MC, Corless CL, Duensing A, McGreevey L, Chen CJ, Joseph N, Singer S, Griffith DJ, Haley A, Town A, Demetri GD, Fletcher CD, Fletcher JA. PDGFRA activating mutations in gastrointestinal stromal tumors. Science. 2003 Jan 31;299(5607):708-10. doi: 10.1126/science.1079666. Epub 2003 Jan 9.
- Hirota S, Ohashi A, Nishida T, Isozaki K, Kinoshita K, Shinomura Y, Kitamura Y. Gain-of-function mutations of platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha gene in gastrointestinal stromal tumors. Gastroenterology. 2003 Sep;125(3):660-7. doi: 10.1016/s0016-5085(03)01046-1.
- Lasota J, Wang ZF, Sobin LH, Miettinen M. Gain-of-function PDGFRA mutations, earlier reported in gastrointestinal stromal tumors, are common in small intestinal inflammatory fibroid polyps. A study of 60 cases. Mod Pathol. 2009 Aug;22(8):1049-56. doi: 10.1038/modpathol.2009.62. Epub 2009 May 15.
- Roufosse FE, Goldman M, Cogan E. Hypereosinophilic syndromes. Orphanet J Rare Dis. 2007 Sep 11;2:37. doi: 10.1186/1750-1172-2-37.
- Schildhaus HU, Cavlar T, Binot E, Buttner R, Wardelmann E, Merkelbach-Bruse S. Inflammatory fibroid polyps harbour mutations in the platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRA) gene. J Pathol. 2008 Oct;216(2):176-82. doi: 10.1002/path.2393.
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