Final answer:
Receptor tyrosine kinases are the cell-surface receptors that undergo phosphorylation upon ligand binding, initiating intracellular signaling. G-protein-coupled receptors, on the other hand, activate G-proteins but do not directly result in receptor phosphorylation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of cell-surface receptor that undergoes changes in phosphorylation in response to the binding of its ligand is the receptor tyrosine kinase. Tyrosine kinase receptors are involved in significant signaling pathways, such as the responses to insulin or growth factors. They function by dimerizing and phosphorylating each other on tyrosine residues, which further propagates the signal within the cell. This phosphorylation provides active docking sites that initiate various cellular responses.
On the other hand, G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) operate differently. These receptors activate associated G-proteins upon ligand binding, but they do not directly involve phosphorylation of the receptor itself. Instead, the active G-protein affects other proteins within the cell, which may then lead to phosphorylation steps downstream in the signaling pathway.
Therefore, the final answer in two line explnation in 300 words: The receptor tyrosine kinase is the cell-surface receptor type that changes in phosphorylation upon ligand binding, initiating various cellular responses through the activation of docking sites created by this phosphorylation event.