title: Localization of PTP-FERM in nerve processes through its FERM domain.
abstract: PTP-FERM is a protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) of Caenorhabditis elegans containing a FERM domain and a PDZ domain. Here we report the characterization of PTP-FERM and the essential role of its FERM domain in the localization of PTP-FERM in the worm. There are at least three alternatively spliced PTP-FERM isoforms, all of which contain a band 4.1/FERM domain, a PDZ domain, and a catalytic domain. PTP-FERM possessed phosphatase activity. PTP-FERM was expressed predominantly in neurons in the nerve ring and the ventral nerve cord. PTP-FERM was found in the nerve processes and to be enriched in the peri-membrane region. Studies using various deletion mutants revealed that the FERM domain was essential and sufficient for the subcellular localization. These results suggest the essential role of the FERM domain in the function of PTP-FERM in the neurons of C. elegans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine (C6), 2-2 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
authors.forename: Yohzo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Uchida
authors.forename: Masato
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ogata
authors.forename: Yoshiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.forename: Masatsugu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oh-hora
authors.forename: Naoya
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hatano
authors.forename: Toshiyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hamaoka
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000201:enzymology*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009474:Neurons / Q000737:chemistry*; D009479:Neuropeptides; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D017027:Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; C028841:erythrocyte membrane band 4.1 protein; C120557:erythrocyte membrane protein band 4.1-like 1; D017027:Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases