A new receptor protein kinase from chick embryo related to type II receptor for TGF-beta

We have isolated cDNA encoding a new member of protein kinase family from chicken embryo cDNA library. The deduced amino acid sequence comprises a cysteine-rich extracellular domain, a single hydrophobic transmembrane domain, and a cytoplasmic serine/threonine kinase domain. Two short inserts are contained in the kinase domain. The primary structure shows that it belongs to the receptor-type serine/threonine kinase subfamily and is most similar to Daf-1. Conserved cysteine residues in the ectodomain suggest the protein as a receptor for a peptide growth factor of TGF-beta family.