Expression of proto-oncogenes in neural tissues.
Several proto-oncogenes have been shown to be expressed in tissues of neural origin. In most cases, their expression is developmentally regulated and they encode proteins similar in their sequence to a variety of known proteins involved in transferring information from the cell surface to the nucleus. Some of the proto-oncogenes, including src and yes, are expressed preferentially in neural tissues and one of them, src+, is expressed there exclusively. Many of neurally expressed proto-oncogenes, including src, yes, ras and myc, are also found in organs containing epithelial cells involved in ion transport. It is possible that proteins encoded by these proto-oncogenes are themselves involved in some aspects of ion transport. Among defined categories of neurons expressing proto-oncogenes, cerebellar Purkinje cells are most frequently mentioned. They express at least 3 proto-oncogenes, src, yes, myc, as well as protein kinase C. Purkinje cells make an attractive model for functional studies of these proteins. Although an integrated picture-illuminating cooperative action of proto-oncogenes in neural or other tissues is missing, it is hoped that discovery of new classes of proto-oncogenes, and functional interactions among them, may help us to understand not only oncogenesis but also biology of the nervous system.
Sudol
M
M
Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10021.
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D011494:Protein Kinases