Protein tyrosine kinases Src and Csk: a tail's tale

Csk and Src are two protein tyrosine kinases with similar amino acid sequences but very different structures and functions. Csk catalyzes a tail phosphorylation reaction on Src and thereby restrains Src's activity and oncogenic potential. Comparative analysis of the domain interactions in these enzymes provides a lesson in signalling diversity and mechanisms of enzyme regulation. The molecular basis of the specificity of Csk targeting the Sire tail appears to involve both local and long-range interactions and illustrates the complexity of selective targeting in post-translational modification.