VEGFR2 (KDR/Flk-1), VEGFR1 (Flt-1) and VEGFR3 (Flt-4) belong to the class III subfamily of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs). All three receptors contain seven immunoglobulin-like repeats in their extracellular domains and kinase insert domains in their intracellular regions. The expression of VEGFR1, 2, and 3 is almost exclusively restricted to the endothelial cells. These receptors are likely to play essential roles in vasculogenesis and angiogenesis.
Mouse VEGFR2 cDNA encodes a 1367 amino acid (aa) residue precursor protein with a 19 aa residue signal peptide. Mature VEGFR2 is composed of a 743 aa residue extracellular domain, a 22 aa residue transmembrane domain and a 583 aa residue cytoplasmic domain. In contrast to VEGFR1 which binds both PlGF and VEGF with high affinity, VEGFR2 binds VEGF but not PlGF with high affinity. The recombinant soluble VEGFR2/Fc chimera binds VEGF with high affinity and is a potent VEGF antagonist.
