The ALK gene provides instructions for making a protein called anaplastic lymphoma kinase, part of a family of proteins called receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs). Receptor tyrosine kinases transmit signals from the cell surface into the cell through a process called signal transduction.he ALK gene provides instructions for making a protein called anaplastic lymphoma kinase, part of a family of proteins called receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs). Receptor tyrosine kinases transmit signals from the cell surface into the cell through a process called signal transduction.