Tyrosine phosphorylation: a signal for the activation of the phagocyte respiratory burst

SUMMARY

The respiratory burst of the phagocytic cell is a unique function which provides the cell with a series of reactive oxygen intermediates which it can use to kill ingested microorganisms. The complex signal transduction pathways responsible for regulating the respiratory burst are yet to be fully elucidated. Protein tyrosine kinases are now recognised as being critical components in the regulatory pathways controlling many cellular functions. In this report we review the evidence implicating tyrosine phosphorylation as an important signal for the activation of the phagocyte respiratory burst.