title: Cloning and expression of Xenopus HGF-like protein (HLP) and Ron/HLP receptor implicate their involvement in early neural development.
abstract: HGF-like protein (HLP), also known as macrophage stimulating protein, is a ligand for Ron receptor tyrosine kinase, a member of the c-Met/hepatocyte growth factor receptor family. We cloned a Xenopus homologue of the Ron/HLP receptor (Xron) and HLP (Xhlp) and analyzed temporal and spatial expressions. Both Xron and Xhlp mRNA were detected in Xenopus embryos at the cleavage stage, as maternally pooled RNA. Zygotic expression of Xron mRNA was seen in early embryos during midblastula and neurula (stage 22), while Xhlp was evident during midblastula and early tadpole (stage 40). Xron mRNA was localized in the most frontal region of the neural fold and peripheral regions of the neural plate, while Xhlp mRNA was seen in midline of the neural plate (notoplate) and the most frontal regions of the neural fold in early neurula. Thus, functional coupling between Ron receptor tyrosine kinase and HLP may have an important role in development of embryonic neural tissue in Xenopus laevis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Osaka University Medical School, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aoki
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kiyohara
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakamura
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002645:Chickens; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D017931:DNA Primers; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000502:physiology; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009424:Nervous System Physiological Phenomena; D010053:Ovary / Q000502:physiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D014982:Xenopus laevis
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D006133:Growth Substances; D011498:Protein Precursors; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; C082332:macrophage stimulating protein; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor; C080835:RON protein; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases