title: Isolation and characterization of mammalian homologues of Caenorhabditis elegans lin-7: localization at cell-cell junctions.
abstract: In Caenorhabditis elegans, the vulval induction is mediated by the let-23 receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK)/ Ras signaling pathway. The precise localization of the let-23 RTK at the epithelial junctions is essential for the vulval induction, and requires three genes including lin-2, -7, and -10. The mammalian homologue of lin-2 has been identified as a protein interacting with a neuronal adhesion molecule, neurexin, and named CASK. CASK has recently been reported to interact with syndecans and an actin-binding protein, band 4.1, at epithelial and synaptic junctions, and to play central roles in the formation of cell-cell junctions. The product of C. elegans lin-7 directly interacts with let-23 RTK and localize it at epithelial junctions. Here, we report three rat homologues of lin-7 ubiquitously expressed in various tissues. These homologues are accumulated at the junctional complex region in cultured Madin-Darby canine kidney cells, and are also localized at the synaptic junctions in neurons. The mammalian homologues of lin-7 may be implicated in the formation of cell-cell junctions.
authors.affiliation: Takai Biotimer Project, ERATO, Japan Science and Technology Corporation, Kobe.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Irie
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hata
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Deguchi
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ide
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hirao
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nishioka
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takai
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D019556:COS Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000235:genetics; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D002460:Cell Line; D004285:Dogs; D015801:Helminth Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D007365:Intercellular Junctions / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D007668:Kidney / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics; D013569:Synapses / Q000378:metabolism; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal; D015801:Helminth Proteins; C099173:LIN-7 protein, C elegans; C486524:Lin7a protein, rat; C486525:Lin7b protein, rat; C119526:Lin7c protein, rat; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C119527:lin-7-Bb protein, rat; C574757:nrx-1 protein, C elegans