title: Vein is a novel component in the Drosophila epidermal growth factor receptor pathway with similarity to the neuregulins.
abstract: The activation signal from tyrosine kinase receptors, such as the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), is relayed via a highly conserved intracellular pathway involving Ras, Raf, and MAPK. In Drosophila, the EGFR and components of the intracellular pathway are broadly expressed, yet receptor activation evokes tissue-specific cell responses. Extracellular events that lead to receptor activation are one mechanism by which signaling is modulated. Here we show molecular and genetic evidence that Drosophila vein (vn) encodes a candidate EGFR ligand and that vn expression is spatially restricted. Consequently, vn may promote tissue-specific receptor activation. Unlike two other ligands, Gurken (Grk) and Spitz (Spi), which are transforming growth factor alpha-like proteins, Vn has both an immunoglobulin-like and an EGF-like domain. This combination of domains mirrors those in the vertebrate neuregulins that bind EGFR relatives.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Genetics, The Ohio State University, Columbus 43210, USA.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schnepp
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Grumbling
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Donaldson
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Simcox
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004330:Drosophila / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000502:physiology; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D005804:Genes, Lethal; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D007814:Larva / Q000235:genetics; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D020880:Neuregulins; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D014680:Veins / Q000254:growth & development; D014921:Wings, Animal / Q000098:blood supply / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D006023:Glycoproteins; D019476:Insect Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D020880:Neuregulins; C076026:spi protein, Drosophila; C102104:vn protein, Drosophila; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases