# Effects of phosphatidylserine and oligomerization on activation mechanisms of TAM receptors

> **NIH NIH F32** · YALE UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $68,562

## Abstract

Project Summary
Many signals that control the survival, growth and differentiation of cells are initiated by activation of receptor
tyrosine kinases on the surface of the cell. Studies of cellular responses to stimuli often focus on the ligands or
proteins that perceive the signal, and the protein receptors that carry the signal into the cell to elicit the desired
response. However, the composition of the cellular membranes in which those proteins are submerged can also
play a direct role in the signaling response. The current study proposes to elucidate how interaction with specific
lipids in the membranes of communicating cells affect receptor activation in the TAM family of receptor tyrosine
kinases. TAM receptors comprise a unique family of receptor tyrosine kinases activated not by growth factors,
but by ligands that are proposed to directly interact with exposed lipids in activating cells. However, the underlying
mechanisms that govern lipid induced receptor activation are poorly understood. The proposed research will
employ a combination of biochemical and biophysical methods to investigate the molecular details of how lipids
may interact with signaling proteins to induce changes that are then converted into an intracellular response.
These studies will mechanistically define lipid-mediated TAM receptor activation and provide important insights
that may be used for the development of new therapeutics in cancer, viral and autoimmune diseases. Our
Specific Aims address two main questions: (1) What are the requirements for PtdSer stimulation of TAM-
dependent phagocytosis? (2) How does binding of PtdSer to the TAM/ligand complex induce activation of the
receptor? This work will take place in the laboratory of Dr. Kathryn Ferguson in the supportive and innovative
research environment at the new Yale Cancer Biology Institute. The fellow will have access to a wealth of
resources at the various departments across the Yale campuses, including several core research facilities and
centers that focus on providing tools and training to advance the research of those within the Yale community
and beyond.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10084164
- **Project number:** 5F32GM131460-02
- **Recipient organization:** YALE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Chrystal Starbird
- **Activity code:** F32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $68,562
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-01-01 → 2021-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10084164

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10084164, Effects of phosphatidylserine and oligomerization on activation mechanisms of TAM receptors (5F32GM131460-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10084164. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*