Novel Eph-family receptor tyrosine kinase is widely expressed in the developing zebrafish nervous system.
In a search for novel tyrosine kinases involved in vertebrate development, we have isolated cDNAs corresponding to three distinct members of the Eph-family of receptor tyrosine kinases. Whole mount RNA in situ hybridization analysis showed all three genes were most abundantly expressed in the developing nervous system. zek1 (zebrafish Eph-like kinase1) encodes a 981 amino acid polypeptide closely related to the murine Sek1 and Bsk receptors. Cos-1 cells transfected with zek1 produce a 141 kilodalton tyrosine phosphorylated protein which is recognized by antibodies raised against two predicted Zek1 peptides. These antibodies also recognized a protein of the same apparent molecular weight in lysates from zebrafish embryos and adults. Widespread expression of zek1 in the developing brain and neural tube suggested a generalized function of the Zek1 receptor in neuronal cell ontogeny.
Bovenkamp
D E
DE
Department of Biochemistry, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
Greer
P
P
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000196:embryology / Q000201:enzymology*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004247:DNA; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000235:genetics*; D036081:Receptors, Eph Family; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014162:Transfection; D015027:Zebrafish; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins
D029961:Zebrafish Proteins; D004247:DNA; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D036081:Receptors, Eph Family; C107358:ek1 protein, zebrafish