A tyrosine-kinase catalytic domain is located at the C-terminal end. Two tyrosine phosphorylation sites are located at the positions Y223 and Y551, which are located in the SH3 and kinase domain, respectively. Both phosphorylation sites play a pivotal role in the activation of BTK. Y551 is transphosphorylated by Syk (or Lyn) kinases which promotes the catalytic activity of BTK, with subsequent autophosphorylation at position Y223.