BTK

BTK may refer to:

Biology

Business

Music

Other

Birth Through Knowledge

Birth Through Knowledge (aka BTK) was a Canadian hip-hop/rock band best known for their 1998 single "Peppyrock," the video for which was nominated for the 1998 MuchMusic Best Video Award. The band consisted of Lo-Ki (vocals), Stone Groove (vocals), DJ Spinz (turntables), Adam Carlo (bass),Sam Cino (drums,percussion) and Matt deMatteo (drums).

After signing onto the Tommyboy/Ignition label, BTK released one album "Birth Thru Knowledge" in 1998.

BTK first came to attention when their song "Corncob Pipe" was included on the sampler disc that Korn released alongside Follow the Leader. They were the first indie band to ever open the main-stage at Edgefest '97. In 1998, the band toured with the Beastie Boys and with Our Lady Peace. They appeared in the 1998 Summersault tour.

The band won the 1997 MuchMusic Best Independent Video Award for "Superchile." They were also nominated for a Juno Award in 1999 in the Best Alternative Album category, losing to Rufus Wainwright.

Footnotes

Bruton's tyrosine kinase

Bruton's tyrosine kinase (abbreviated Btk or BTK) also known as tyrosine-protein kinase BTK is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the BTK gene. BTK is a kinase that plays a crucial role in B-cell development.

Function

BTK plays a crucial role in B cell maturation as well as mast cell activation through the high-affinity IgE receptor.

Btk contains a PH domain that binds phosphatidylinositol (3,4,5)-trisphosphate (PIP3). PIP3 binding induces Btk to phosphorylate phospholipase C, which in turn hydrolyzes PIP₂, a phosphatidylinositol, into two second messengers, inositol triphosphate (IP3) and diacylglycerol (DAG), which then go on to modulate the activity of downstream proteins during B-cell signalling.

Clinical significance

Mutations in the BTK gene are implicated in the primary immunodeficiency disease X-linked agammaglobulinemia (Bruton's agammaglobulinemia). Patients with XLA have normal pre-B cell populations in their bone marrow but these cells fail to mature and enter the circulation. The Btk gene is located on the X chromosome. At least 400 mutations of the BTK gene have been identified.