Leukocytes express a novel gene encoding a putative transmembrane protein-kinase devoid of an extracellular domain

Tyrosine-specific phosphorylation of proteins is a key to the control of diverse pathways leading to cell growth and differentiation. The protein-tyrosine kinases described to date are either transmembrane proteins having an extracellular ligand binding domain or cytoplasmic proteins related to the v-src oncogene. Most of these proteins are expressed in a wide variety of cells and tissues; few are tissue-specific. Previous studies have suggested that lymphokines could mediate haematopoietic cell survival through their action on glucose transport, regulated in some cells through the protein-tyrosine kinase activity of the insulin receptor. We have investigated the possibility that insulin receptor-like genes are expressed specifically in haematopoietic cells. Using the insulin receptor-related avian sarcoma oncogene v-ros as a probe, we have isolated and characterized the complementary DNA of a novel gene, ltk (leukocyte tyrosine kinase). The ltk gene is expressed mainly in leukocytes, is related to several tyrosine kinase receptor genes of the insulin receptor family and has unique structural properties: it apparently encodes a transmembrane protein devoid of an extracellular domain. Two candidate ltk proteins have been identified with antibodies in the mouse thymus, and have properties indicating that they are integral membrane proteins. These features suggest that ltk could be a signal transduction subunit for one or several of the haematopoietic receptors.     

A protein-tyrosine phosphatase with sequence similarity to the SH2 domain of the protein-tyrosine kinases.

The phosphorylation of proteins at tyrosine residues is critical in cellular signal transduction, neoplastic transformation and control of the mitotic cycle. These mechanisms are regulated by the activities of both protein-tyrosine kinases (PTKs) and protein-tyrosine phosphatases (PTPases). As in the PTKs, there are two classes of PTPases: membrane associated, receptor-like enzymes and soluble proteins. Here we report the isolation of a complementary DNA clone encoding a new form of soluble PTPase, PTP1C. The enzyme possesses a large noncatalytic region at the N terminus which unexpectedly contains two adjacent copies of the Src homology region 2 (the SH2 domain) found in various nonreceptor PTKs and other cytoplasmic signalling proteins. As with other SH2 sequences, the SH2 domains of PTP1C formed high-affinity complexes with the activated epidermal growth factor receptor and other phosphotyrosine-containing proteins. These results suggest that the SH2 regions in PTP1C may interact with other cellular components to modulate its own phosphatase activity against interacting substrates. PTPase activity may thus directly link growth factor receptors and other signalling proteins through protein-tyrosine phosphorylation.     

AFM观察小鼠心肌核DNA片段的基因组合形成"基因系"的系统性和垃圾DNA的相互作用

用原子力显微镜(AFM)直接观察、小白鼠心肌等组织的核DNA片段的基因体外转录等多种实验技术组合,通过AFM观察到心肌核DNA片段上的基因,处于垃圾DNA的“转录平台”上,在体外转录过程中,由n(n=3、4等)个活性基因节,对应的n-1个“基因间隔”,依特定的排列组合分别形成n(n=3、4等)种大小不同的“基因系”,各“基因系”中的基因节同时转录,分别形成对应nRNA(n=9、12等)链状复合体,nRMA链状复合体分别与对应基因系的单链DNA两边的“接口”相联。核内对应nmRNA数量减少,形成负反馈效应后,使nRNA从对应“基因系”上迅速解离下来,核内经“转录后修饰”形成对应nmRNA链状复合体。该复合体主要在核内,处于垃圾DNA的“翻译平台”上进行蛋白质翻译,并在核内加工修饰形成有活性蛋白质。本工作展示了未来运用AFM观察生物学反应、研究核基因转录与调控的分子机理、基因组合形成基因系的系统性和垃圾DNA的相互作用的前景。