Rat oligodendroglia express c-met and focal adhesion kinase, protein tyrosine kinases implicated in regulating epithelial cell motility.
Oligodendrocytes, the myelinating cells of the central nervous system, arise from a profilerating pool of motile progenitor cells. The proliferation and survival of these cells is dependent on signal transduction via several protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs) including receptors for fibroblast growth factor -2, the platelet-derived growth factor receptors and the neurotrophin receptor, trkC. We hypothesized that additional PTKs could also influence oligodendroglial development. Utilizing RTPCR, we amplified from post-natal day 6 rat oligodendroglia 17 distinct kinase domain sequences, 14 of which were not previously known to be expressed by oligodendroglia. Amongst the sequences identified were the c-met and Fak genes, whose protein products regulate the motility of other epithelial cell types. Utilizing immunohistochemistry, we confirmed that both c-met and Fak are expressed by cultured oligodendroglia, suggesting that these proteins could also be implicated in regulating the motility of these cells.
Kilpatrick
T J
TJ
Development and Neurobiology Group, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia. kilpatrick@wehi.edu.au
Ortuño
D
D
Bucci
T
T
Lai
C
C
Lemke
G
G
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000235:genetics*; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000235:genetics*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D051417:Focal Adhesion Kinase 1; D051416:Focal Adhesion Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D009836:Oligodendroglia / Q000378:metabolism*; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000235:genetics*; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism
D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met; D051417:Focal Adhesion Kinase 1; D051416:Focal Adhesion Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; C496052:Ptk2 protein, rat