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A putative receptor tyrosine kinase with unique structural topology
J Rescigno1, A Mansukhani, C Basilico
1Department of Microbiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York 10016.
Oncogene
|October 1, 1991
Summary
Researchers identified a novel tyrosine kinase receptor, adhesion-related kinase (ark), involved in cell adhesion. Ark mRNA is widely expressed but absent in hematopoietic cells and certain stem cells.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs) are crucial tyrosine kinases regulating cell growth and differentiation.
- The immunoglobulin superfamily and fibronectin type III domains are implicated in cell adhesion and signaling pathways.
Purpose of the Study:
- To clone and characterize a novel murine cDNA with homology to the bek fibroblast growth factor receptor.
- To investigate the structural features and expression pattern of the newly identified protein tyrosine kinase.
Main Methods:
- Homology screening using the tyrosine kinase domain of the bek fibroblast growth factor receptor.
- cDNA cloning and sequence analysis.
- Messenger RNA (mRNA) expression analysis in various cell lines and tissues.
Main Results:
- A novel murine cDNA encoding a putative tyrosine kinase receptor, named adhesion-related kinase (ark), was cloned.
- Ark possesses a unique extracellular domain structure, featuring immunoglobulin-like and fibronectin type III domains.
- Ark mRNA is broadly expressed in cell lines and adult tissues, with notable absence in hematopoietic lineage and undifferentiated teratocarcinoma cells (F9, N Tera 2).
Conclusions:
- Ark represents a new class of receptor tyrosine kinase, potentially playing a role in cell adhesion.
- The distinct structural domains suggest a unique signaling mechanism.
- Differential expression patterns indicate a specific role in non-hematopoietic cell types and developmental processes.