title: Identification of a Drosophila activin receptor.
abstract: Activins are cytokines of the transforming growth factor beta superfamily that control various events during vertebrate embryo development and cell differentiation in the adult, and act through transmembrane receptors that contain a cytoplasmic protein-serine/threonine kinase domain. We describe the identification, deduced primary structure, and expression pattern of Atr-II, a receptor serine/threonine kinase found in Drosophila. With the exception of the spacing of 10 cysteine residues, the extracellular domain of Atr-II is very dissimilar from those of vertebrate activin receptors, yet it binds activin with high affinity and specificity. The kinase domain sequence of Atr-II is 60% identical to those of activin receptors from vertebrates, suggesting similarities in their signaling mechanisms. Maternal Atr-II transcript and its product are abundant in the oocyte. During development, the highest levels of Atr-II transcript and protein are observed in the mesoderm and gut. The possible role of an activin signaling system in Drosophila development is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine 92717.
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Childs
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Wrana
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Arora
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Attisano
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Massagué
mesh_terms: D029404:Activin Receptors; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics*; D015870:Gene Expression; D017344:Genes, Insect; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D029404:Activin Receptors