STK-1, the human homolog of Flk-2/Flt-3, is selectively expressed in CD34+ human bone marrow cells and is involved in the proliferation of early progenitor/stem cells

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1994 Jan 18;91(2):459-63. doi: 10.1073/pnas.91.2.459.

Abstract

We cloned the cDNA for stem cell tyrosine kinase 1 (STK-1), the human homolog of murine Flk-2/Flt-3, from a CD34+ hematopoietic stem cell-enriched library and investigated its expression in subsets of normal human bone marrow. The cDNA encodes a protein of 993 aa with 85% identity and 92% similarity to Flk-2/Flt-3. STK-1 is a member of the type III receptor tyrosine kinase family that includes KIT (steel factor receptor), FMS (colony-stimulating factor 1R), and platelet-derived growth factor receptor. STK-1 expression in human blood and marrow is restricted to CD34+ cells, a population greatly enriched for stem/progenitor cells. Anti-STK-1 antiserum recognizes polypeptides of 160 and 130 kDa in several STK-1-expressing cell lines and in 3T3 cells transfected with a STK-1 expression vector. Antisense oligonucleotides directed against STK-1 sequences inhibited hematopoietic colony formation, most strongly in long-term bone marrow cultures. These data suggest that STK-1 may function as a growth factor receptor on hematopoietic stem and/or progenitor cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Antigens, CD / metabolism
  • Antigens, CD34
  • Base Sequence
  • Bone Marrow / enzymology*
  • Bone Marrow / immunology
  • Bone Marrow Cells
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • DNA, Complementary / genetics
  • Gene Expression
  • Hematopoiesis / genetics
  • Hematopoiesis / physiology
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / cytology
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / enzymology
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / genetics*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / genetics*
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / genetics*
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase 3

Substances

  • Antigens, CD
  • Antigens, CD34
  • DNA, Complementary
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • FLT3 protein, human
  • Flt3 protein, mouse
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase 3

Associated data

  • GENBANK/U02687