Isolation and characterization of mammalian homologues of Caenorhabditis elegans lin-7: localization at cell-cell junctions

Oncogene. 1999 May 6;18(18):2811-7. doi: 10.1038/sj.onc.1202652.

Abstract

In Caenorhabditis elegans, the vulval induction is mediated by the let-23 receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK)/ Ras signaling pathway. The precise localization of the let-23 RTK at the epithelial junctions is essential for the vulval induction, and requires three genes including lin-2, -7, and -10. The mammalian homologue of lin-2 has been identified as a protein interacting with a neuronal adhesion molecule, neurexin, and named CASK. CASK has recently been reported to interact with syndecans and an actin-binding protein, band 4.1, at epithelial and synaptic junctions, and to play central roles in the formation of cell-cell junctions. The product of C. elegans lin-7 directly interacts with let-23 RTK and localize it at epithelial junctions. Here, we report three rat homologues of lin-7 ubiquitously expressed in various tissues. These homologues are accumulated at the junctional complex region in cultured Madin-Darby canine kidney cells, and are also localized at the synaptic junctions in neurons. The mammalian homologues of lin-7 may be implicated in the formation of cell-cell junctions.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • COS Cells / metabolism
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / genetics
  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / genetics*
  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / metabolism
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal / genetics*
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal / metabolism
  • Cell Line
  • Dogs
  • Helminth Proteins / genetics*
  • Helminth Proteins / metabolism
  • Intercellular Junctions / genetics*
  • Intercellular Junctions / metabolism
  • Kidney / cytology
  • Kidney / metabolism
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics*
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Neurons / cytology
  • Neurons / metabolism*
  • Rabbits
  • Rats
  • Recombinant Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / genetics
  • Synapses / metabolism
  • Transfection

Substances

  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal
  • Helminth Proteins
  • LIN-7 protein, C elegans
  • Lin7a protein, rat
  • Lin7b protein, rat
  • Lin7c protein, rat
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • lin-7-Bb protein, rat
  • nrx-1 protein, C elegans

Associated data

  • GENBANK/AF090133
  • GENBANK/AF090134
  • GENBANK/AF090135
  • GENBANK/AF090136