NEP: a novel receptor-like tyrosine kinase expressed in proliferating neuroepithelia

We have isolated a murine cDNA, nep, which encodes a novel receptor-like protein tyrosine kinase. The kinase region of NEP protein bears 50% amino acid sequence identity to the neurotrophin receptors (TRKs). While the intracytoplasmic portion of NEP also contains a short kinase insert region and C-terminal tail reminiscent of the TRK proteins, the putative extracellular domain of NEP is unrelated to any known proteins. The nep gene is strongly expressed within proliferating neuroepithelia of mouse embryos, commencing at the early somite stage (embryonic day 8.0) and persisting in the proliferative ventricular zones of the brain and spinal cord, suggesting that one function of NEP kinase is to signal proliferation of neuroepithelial cells in response to an as yet unknown ligand. The nep gene is also expressed in embryonic sensory ganglia, striated muscle and epidermis, as well as in several adult tissues, including the ventricle linings and glia subpopulations in the brain.