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Updated: Feb 28, 2026

Light-mediated Reversible Modulation of the Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase Pathway during Cell Differentiation and Xenopus Embryonic Development
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Light-mediated Reversible Modulation of the Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase Pathway during Cell Differentiation and Xenopus Embryonic Development

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TAM receptor signaling in development

Tal Burstyn-Cohen1

  • 1The Institute for Dental Sciences, Faculty of Dental Medicine, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel. talbu@ekmd.huji.ac.il.

The International Journal of Developmental Biology
|June 17, 2017
PubMed

Insights

The TAM receptors TYRO3, AXL, and MERTK, activated by ligands PROS1 and GAS6, are crucial for immune, nervous, vascular, and reproductive system development. Dysregulation of TAM signaling leads to disease and cancer progression.

Area of Science:

  • Cellular Biology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • The TAM family of receptor tyrosine kinases, including TYRO3, AXL, and MERTK, are vital for numerous cellular functions.
  • These receptors are activated by protein S (PROS1) and growth-arrest-specific 6 (GAS6) ligands.
  • TAM signaling plays a role in maintaining homeostasis across various systems, including immune, nervous, vascular, bone, and reproductive.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the critical roles of TAM receptors and their ligands during developmental processes.
  • To highlight the involvement of TAM signaling in the immune, nervous, vascular, and reproductive systems from embryogenesis through postnatal stages.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of existing research on TAM receptors and their ligands.
  • Synthesis of current knowledge on TAM signaling pathways and their developmental functions.

Main Results:

  • Loss-of-function in TAM signaling disrupts tissue homeostasis and leads to disease in adult tissues.
  • Gain-of-function in TAM signaling in tumors promotes cancer phenotypes.
  • Combinatorial interactions between TAM ligands and receptors can elicit diverse molecular and cellular outcomes.

Conclusions:

  • TAM receptor signaling is essential for normal development across multiple physiological systems.
  • Understanding TAM signaling is crucial for addressing developmental disorders and cancer.

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