Disruption of cell adhesion in Xenopus embryos by Pagliaccio, an Eph-class receptor tyrosine kinase.
Pagliaccio (Pag) is a receptor tyrosine kinase of the Eph family that is expressed in Xenopus embryos in a diverse set of localized tissues. Pag is the Xenopus homolog of Hek-8 (human), Sek-1 (mouse), cek8 (chicken), and RTK-1 (zebrafish). We have investigated the function of this protein by injecting RNA encoding an epidermal growth factor receptor-Pag chimera into early Xenopus embryos. Activation of the chimeric receptor results in a kinase-dependent loss of cell-cell adhesion. This dissociation can be reversed by co-injection of RNA encoding C-cadherin, suggesting that one or more cadherins could be the functional targets for Pag activity.
Department of Biology, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti 48197, USA.
R S
RS
Winning
J B
JB
Scales
T D
TD
Sargent
D000818:Animals; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000235:genetics; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D012313:RNA / Q000032:analysis; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D014981:Xenopus / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism*
D012313:RNA; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases