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Radiation induction of the receptor tyrosine kinase gene Ptk-3 in normal rat astrocytes

Journal Article · · Radiation Research
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2307/3578919· OSTI ID:121701
; ;  [1]
  1. Univ. of Texas, Houston, TX (United States); and others

Radiation-induced gene expression was examined in rat astrocyte cultures using differential display of mRNA via reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. A 0.3-kb cDNA that was consistently observed in irradiated cultures but not in unirradiated cultures was cloned and sequenced. It was found to be identical to Ptk-3, a receptor tyrosine kinase gene identified recently. The protein encoded by Ptk-3 is a member of a novel class of receptor tyrosine kinases whose extracellular domain contains regions of homology with coagulation factors V and VIII and complement component C1. Northern blot analysis revealed that the expression of Ptk-3 was increased in rat astrocytes by 0.5 h after exposure to 10 Gy and remained at the same elevated level for at least 24 h. The maximum increase occurred after 5 Gy cloning studies indicated the presence of at least two Ptk-3 mRNA transcripts, which are probable the result of an alternative splicing mechanism. The short isoform lacks a 37 amino acid sequence in the glycine/proline-rich juxtamembrane region. The splicing pattern of the Ptk-3 gene was not altered by radiation. However, the ratios of the longer to the shorter mRNA transcripts differed between adult cortex, neonatal cortex and in vitro astrocyte cultures. 36 refs., 5 figs.

Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
OSTI ID:
121701
Journal Information:
Radiation Research, Journal Name: Radiation Research Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 143; ISSN 0033-7587; ISSN RAREAE
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English