Pharmacology of Src family kinases and therapeutic implications of their modulators

Src family kinases (SFKs), the largest family of nonreceptor tyrosine kinases, include 10 members. Src was the first gene product discovered to have intrinsic protein tyrosine kinase activity. Src is widely expressed in many cell types and can have different locations within a cell; the subcellular location of Src can affect its function. Src can associate with cellular membranes, such as the plasma membrane, the perinuclear membrane, and the endosomal membrane. SFKs actions on mammalian cells are pleiotropic and include effect on cell morphology, adhesion, migration, invasion, proliferation, differentiation, and survival. SFKs at one end have been documented to play some important physiological functions; on the other end, they have been described in the pathophysiology of some disorders. In this review article, an exhaustive attempt has been made to unearth pharmacology of SFKs and therapeutic implications of SFKs modulators.