Tyrosine-protein kinase that acts as cell-surface receptor for fibroblast growth factors and plays an essential role in the regulation of cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. Plays an essential role in the regulation of chondrocyte differentiation, proliferation and apoptosis, and is required for normal skeleton development. Regulates both osteogenesis and postnatal bone mineralization by osteoblasts. Promotes apoptosis in chondrocytes, but can also promote cancer cell proliferation. Required for normal development of the inner ear. Phosphorylates PLCG1, CBL and FRS2. Ligand binding leads to the activation of several signaling cascades. Activation of PLCG1 leads to the production of the cellular signaling molecules diacylglycerol and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate. Phosphorylation of FRS2 triggers recruitment of GRB2, GAB1, PIK3R1 and SOS1, and mediates activation of RAS, MAPK1/ERK2, MAPK3/ERK1 and the MAP kinase signaling pathway, as well as of the AKT1 signaling pathway. Plays a role in the regulation of vitamin D metabolism. Mutations that lead to constitutive kinase activation or impair normal FGFR3 maturation, internalization and degradation lead to aberrant signaling. Over-expressed or constitutively activated FGFR3 promotes activation of STAT1, STAT5A and STAT5B. Plays a role in postnatal lung development. ATP + L-tyrosyl-[protein] = ADP + H(+) + O-phospho-L-tyrosyl-[protein] Present in an inactive conformation in the absence of bound ligand. Ligand binding leads to dimerization and activation by autophosphorylation on tyrosine residues (By similarity). Monomer. Homodimer after ligand binding. Interacts with FGF1, FGF2, FGF4, FGF6; FGF8, FGF9, FGF10, FGF17, FGF18, FGF19, FGF20 and FGF23 (in vitro). Interacts with KLB. Affinity for fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) is increased by heparan sulfate glycosaminoglycans that function as coreceptors. Likewise, KLB increases the affinity for FGF19 and FGF21. Interacts with PIK3R1, PLCG1, SOCS1 and SOCS3 (By similarity). The activated receptor is rapidly internalized and degraded. Detected in intracellular vesicles after internalization of the autophosphorylated receptor (By similarity). In embryo, expressed in heart, lung, kidney, skin, head and liver but not in muscle. In adult, highest levels in brain. Also expressed in liver, lung, kidney, testis, ovary and uterus. Very low levels in heart, thymus, spleen and muscle. Expressed in embryos from mid-gestation and in adult. The second and third Ig-like domains directly interact with fibroblast growth factors (FGF) and heparan sulfate proteoglycans. Autophosphorylated. Binding of FGF family members together with heparan sulfate proteoglycan or heparin promotes receptor dimerization and autophosphorylation on tyrosine residues. Autophosphorylation occurs in trans between the two FGFR molecules present in the dimer. Phosphorylation at Tyr-719 is essential for stimulation of cell proliferation and activation of PIK3R1, STAT1 and MAP kinase signaling. Phosphorylation at Tyr-755 is required for interaction with PIK3R1 and PLCG1 (By similarity). Ubiquitinated. Is rapidly ubiquitinated after ligand binding and autophosphorylation, leading to receptor internalization and degradation. Subject to both proteasomal and lysosomal degradation (By similarity). N-glycosylated in the endoplasmic reticulum. The N-glycan chains undergo further maturation to an Endo H-resistant form in the Golgi apparatus (By similarity). Mice exhibit defects in their skeleton, including kyphosis, scoliosis, crooked tails and curvature and overgrowth of long bones and vertebrae. This bone dysplasia is due to defects in the regulation of chondrocyte proliferation and differentiation in the cartilaginous growth plate. Mice also display inner ear defects including failure of pillar cell differentiation and tunnel of Corti formation, resulting in profound deafness. Mice lacking both FGFR3 and FGFR4 display pronounced dwarfism, and while their lungs appear normal at birth, they are completely blocked in alveogenesis and do not form secondary septae to delimit alveoli. These mice also show elevated serum levels of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and reduced serum phosphorus levels. Belongs to the protein kinase superfamily. Tyr protein kinase family. Fibroblast growth factor receptor subfamily.