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Functional expression of the yes proto-oncogene protein in Xenopus oocytes injected with chicken cerebellar mRNA

M Sudol1

  • 1Laboratory of Viral Oncology, Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10021-6399.

Journal of Neuroscience Research
|September 1, 1989
PubMed

Insights

Researchers identified a 58 kD protein-tyrosine kinase (pp58) in Xenopus laevis frog brain, likely the amphibian c-yes protein. This kinase is enzymatically active when expressed in oocytes, demonstrating the utility of this system for studying tyrosine kinases.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Developmental Biology

Background:

  • Protein-tyrosine kinases (PTKs) play crucial roles in cellular signaling pathways.
  • The c-yes proto-oncogene encodes a non-receptor PTK involved in cell growth and differentiation.
  • Understanding the expression and function of c-yes in different species and developmental stages is important.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify and characterize the amphibian homolog of the c-yes protein-tyrosine kinase in Xenopus laevis.
  • To investigate the expression pattern of this kinase in different tissues.
  • To evaluate the Xenopus oocyte as a system for studying the functional aspects of c-yes protein.

Main Methods:

  • Monospecific antibodies against the amino-terminal domain of viral-yes protein were used for immunoprecipitation.
  • Peptide mapping and expression analysis were employed to compare the amphibian kinase with known tyrosine kinases.
  • Xenopus oocytes were used as an expression system by injecting mRNA from chicken cerebellum.

Main Results:

  • A 58 kD protein-tyrosine kinase (pp58) was isolated from Xenopus laevis brain and identified as the amphibian c-yes protein based on expression patterns and peptide mapping.
  • pp58c-yes showed elevated expression in adult brain compared to oocytes.
  • Exogenously expressed pp62c-yes in oocytes was enzymatically active and led to the detection of phosphotyrosine-containing proteins.

Conclusions:

  • The Xenopus oocyte is a suitable system for transiently expressing and analyzing functional aspects of c-yes protein and other tyrosine kinases.
  • The study provides insights into the expression and potential function of c-yes in an amphibian model system.
  • The findings contribute to the broader understanding of tyrosine kinase roles in development and cellular processes.

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