TYROSINE PHOSPHORYLATION - A SIGNAL FOR THE ACTIVATION OF THE PHAGOCYTE RESPIRATORY BURST

The respiratory burst of the phagocytic cell is a unique function whic h provides the cell with a series of reactive oxygen intermediates whi ch it can use to kill ingested microorganisms. The complex signal tran sduction pathways responsible for regulating the respiratory burst are yet to be fully elucidated, Protein tyrosine kinases are now recognis ed as being critical components in the regulatory pathways controlling many cellular functions. In this report we review the evidence implic ating tyrosine phosphorylation as an important signal for the activati on of the phagocyte respiratory burst.