Expression of the protein kinase D (PKD) family during mouse embryogenesis

The serine/threonine protein kinase D (PKD) family comprises of three members, PKD1 (PKCmu), PKD2 and PKD3 (PKCnu). Like the related C-type protein kinases (PKCs), PKDs are activated by diacylglycerol (DAG). PKDs have been implicated in numerous intracellular signaling pathways including vesicular transport, cell proliferation, survival, migration and immune responses. While experimental data on this recently discovered kinase family are starting to accumulate family member specific information is still sparse and only small effort has been taken to functionally differentiate the three PKDs. To address this issue we followed the expression patterns of PKD1, 2 and 3 during the development of the mouse embryo. Using specific probe sets for RT-PCR and in situ hybridization, we demonstrate shared and differential expression domains for the three PKD family members in both neuronal and non-neuronal tissues.