Tyrosine-protein kinase that acts as cell-surface receptor for homodimeric PDGFB and PDGFD and for heterodimers formed by PDGFA and PDGFB, and plays an essential role in the regulation of embryonic development, cell proliferation, survival, differentiation, chemotaxis and migration. Plays an essential role in blood vessel development by promoting proliferation, migration and recruitment of pericytes and smooth muscle cells to endothelial cells. Required for normal development of the cardiovascular system. Required for normal recruitment of pericytes (mesangial cells) in the kidney glomerulus, and for normal formation of a branched network of capillaries in kidney glomeruli. Promotes rearrangement of the actin cytoskeleton and the formation of membrane ruffles. Binding of its cognate ligands - homodimeric PDGFB, heterodimers formed by PDGFA and PDGFB or homodimeric PDGFD -leads to the activation of several signaling cascades; the response depends on the nature of the bound ligand and is modulated by the formation of heterodimers between PDGFRA and PDGFRB. Receptor signaling is down-regulated by protein phosphatases that dephosphorylate the receptor and its down-stream effectors, and by rapid internalization of the activated receptor (By similarity). ATP + L-tyrosyl-[protein] = ADP + H(+) + O-phospho-L-tyrosyl-[protein] Present in an inactive conformation in the absence of bound ligand. Binding of PDGFB and/or PDGFD leads to dimerization and activation by autophosphorylation on tyrosine residues (By similarity). Interacts with homodimeric PDGFB and PDGFD, and with heterodimers formed by PDGFA and PDGFB. Monomer in the absence of bound ligand. Interaction with homodimeric PDGFB, heterodimers formed by PDGFA and PDGFB or homodimeric PDGFD, leads to receptor dimerization, where both PDGFRA homodimers and heterodimers with PDGFRB are observed (By similarity). After ligand binding, the autophosphorylated receptor is ubiquitinated and internalized, leading to its degradation. Ubiquitinated. After autophosphorylation, the receptor is polyubiquitinated, leading to its degradation (By similarity). Autophosphorylated on tyrosine residues upon ligand binding. Autophosphorylation occurs in trans, i.e. one subunit of the dimeric receptor phosphorylates tyrosine residues on the other subunit (By similarity). Belongs to the protein kinase superfamily. Tyr protein kinase family. CSF-1/PDGF receptor subfamily.