Novel Eph‐family receptor tyrosine kinase is widely expressed in the developing zebrafish nervous system

• Published in: Developmental dynamics 1997-06, Vol.209 (2), p.166-181
• Main Authors: Bovenkamp, Diane E., Greer, Peter
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Base Sequence; Central Nervous System - embryology; Central Nervous System - enzymology; Cloning, Molecular; development; DNA; Eph; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; Molecular Sequence Data; nervous system; patterning; Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases - genetics; receptor tyrosine kinase; Receptors, Eph Family; Transcription, Genetic; Transfection; Zebrafish; Zebrafish Proteins
• ISSN: 1058-8388; 1097-0177
• DOI: 10.1002/(SICI)1097-0177(199706)209:2<166::AID-AJA3>3.0.CO;2-G

In a search for novel tyrosine kinases involved in vertebrate development, we have isolated cDNAs corresponding to three distinct members of the Eph‐family of receptor tyrosine kinases. Whole mount RNA in situ hybridization analysis showed all three genes were most abundantly expressed in the developing nervous system. zek1 (zebrafish Eph‐like kinase1) encodes a 981 amino acid polypeptide closely related to the murine Sek1 and Bsk receptors. Cos‐1 cells transfected with zek1 produce a 141 kilodalton tyrosine phosphorylated protein which is recognized by antibodies raised against two predicted Zek1 peptides. These antibodies also recognized a protein of the same apparent molecular weight in lysates from zebrafish embryos and adults. Widespread expression of zek1 in the developing brain and neural tube suggested a generalized function of the Zek1 receptor in neuronal cell ontogeny. Dev. Dyn. 209: 166‐181, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.