Identification of full-length and truncated forms of Ehk-3, a novel member of the Eph receptor tyrosine kinase family

Oncogene. 1995 Apr 20;10(8):1573-80.

Abstract

Factors that bind and activate receptor tyrosine kinases are known to play key roles during development and in the adult. The Eph-related receptors constitute the largest known family of receptor tyrosine kinases. Members of the Eph family exhibit intriguing patterns of expression in the embryo, implicating them in a variety of developmental processes, and their expression is often restricted to particular subpopulations of postmitotic neurons in the adult. We describe the identification and characterization of a novel member of the Eph receptor family, which we have termed Ehk-3 for Eph Homologous Kinase 3. Ehk-3 displays all the major structural features shared by other members of the Eph family, including a cysteine-rich region and tandem fibronectin type-III domains in its extracellular portion. Ehk-3 is expressed in two forms in a developmentally-regulated fashion: a conventional full-length version containing the intracellular tyrosine kinase domain, as well as a truncated form that lacks this domain. Both forms of Ehk-3 are quite restricted to the nervous system in the adult, but Ehk-3 is more widely expressed in the embryo, suggesting that Ehk-3 mediates different functions during development and in the adult.

MeSH terms

  • Age Factors
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Female
  • Male
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • RNA, Messenger / analysis
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / chemistry
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / genetics
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / isolation & purification*
  • Receptor, EphA7*

Substances

  • RNA, Messenger
  • EPHA7 protein, rat
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • Receptor, EphA7

Associated data

  • GENBANK/U21954