Abstract
We have isolated a Drosophila receptor protein tyrosine kinase (RTK) of the Eph subfamily. Dek, for Drosophila Eph kinase, possesses all the domains characteristic of the Eph subfamily of RTKs and is equally similar in sequence to both the EphA and the EphB subclasses. Antibody staining and promoter fusions to axon-targeted reporters reveal that Dek is expressed by a large subset of developing embryonic interneurons and is targeted to their axons and growth cones at the time of axon pathfinding. Dek is also expressed by photoreceptor cells of third-instar larvae as they project axons into the optic brain lobe. Misexpression and overexpression of full-length Dek or kinase-inactive Dek do not grossly affect axon pathfinding.
Copyright 1999 Academic Press.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Antibodies, Monoclonal
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Axons / enzymology*
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DNA, Complementary
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Drosophila
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Drosophila Proteins*
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Female
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Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
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Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic
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Genes, Insect / physiology
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In Situ Hybridization
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Lac Operon
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Mice
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Nervous System / cytology
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Nervous System / enzymology
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Nervous System / growth & development
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Protein Structure, Tertiary
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RNA, Messenger / analysis
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Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / chemistry
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Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / genetics*
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Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / immunology
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Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / isolation & purification
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Receptor, EphA3
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Receptor, EphB2
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Receptors, Eph Family*
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Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
Substances
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Antibodies, Monoclonal
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DNA, Complementary
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Drosophila Proteins
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RNA, Messenger
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Dek protein, Drosophila
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Epha3 protein, mouse
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Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
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Receptor, EphA3
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Receptor, EphB2
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Receptors, Eph Family