Neurones express high levels of a structurally modified, activated form of pp60c-src.
Neural tissues contain high levels of the cellular homologue of the transforming protein of Rous sarcoma virus (RSV), but neither the specific cell types expressing high levels of c-src, nor the function of the cellular src (c-src) protein has been determined. Using primary culture methods, we have found that pure neurones and astrocytes derived from the rat central nervous system (CNS) contain 15- to 20-times higher levels of the c-src protein than fibroblasts. However, the specific activity of the c-src protein from the neuronal cultures is 6- to 12-times higher than that from the astrocyte cultures. In addition, the c-src protein expressed in neuronal cultures contains a structural alteration within the amino-terminal region of the molecule that causes a shift in the mobility of the c-src protein on the SDS-polyacrylamide gels. These results indicate that a structurally distinct form of the cellular src protein that possesses an activated tyrosylkinase activity is expressed at very high levels in post-mitotic CNS neurones.
J S
JS
Brugge
P C
PC
Cotton
A E
AE
Queral
J N
JN
Barrett
D
D
Nonner
R W
RW
Keane
D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000201:enzymology; D001921:Brain / Q000201:enzymology; D002455:Cell Division; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D009474:Neurons / Q000201:enzymology*; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D016392:Proto-Oncogene Proteins pp60(c-src); D051381:Rats; D012160:Retina / Q000201:enzymology; D013379:Substrate Specificity
D010750:Phosphoproteins; D011494:Protein Kinases; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D016392:Proto-Oncogene Proteins pp60(c-src)