Dtrk, a Drosophila gene related to the trk family of neurotrophin receptors, encodes a novel class of neural cell adhesion molecule.
We report the identification and molecular characterization of Dtrk, a Drosophila gene encoding a receptor tyrosine kinase highly related to the trk family of mammalian neurotrophin receptors. The product of the Dtrk gene, gp160Dtrk, is dynamically expressed during Drosophila embryogenesis in several areas of the developing nervous system, including neurons and fasciculating axons. gp160Dtrk has structural homology with neural cell adhesion molecules of the immunoglobulin superfamily and promotes cell adhesion in a homophilic, Ca2+ independent manner. More importantly, this adhesion process specifically activates its tyrosine protein kinase activity. These findings suggest that gp160Dtrk represents a new class of neural cell adhesion molecules that may regulate neuronal recognition and axonal guidance during the development of the Drosophila nervous system.
Pulido
D
D
Department of Molecular Biology, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceutical Research Institute, Princeton, NJ 08543.
Campuzano
S
S
Koda
T
T
Modolell
J
J
Barbacid
M
M
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000502:physiology; D001483:Base Sequence; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal / Q000235:genetics*; D002460:Cell Line; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004330:Drosophila / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000502:physiology; D015870:Gene Expression; D008322:Mammals; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D005810:Multigene Family; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D011061:Poly A / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000235:genetics*; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017468:Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014162:Transfection
D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017468:Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor; D011061:Poly A; D012313:RNA; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; C102667:htl protein, Drosophila