ROLE OF EPH RECEPTORS AND THEIR LIGANDS IN CELL PATTERNING

受体酪氨酸激酶最初被鉴定为细胞同源物 引起细胞转化的病毒致癌基因。受体酪氨酸 激酶在细胞信号传导中发挥重要作用， 细胞过程，包括细胞增殖、分化和 生存受体酪氨酸激酶的一个新的大的亚家族，Eph 家族，可能负责一系列独特的细胞特性， 包括细胞迁移、细胞粘附和轴突引导， 他们的位置和邻居是谁在这 以这种方式，Eph受体配体系统的改变可能有助于 肿瘤细胞生长和细胞迁移的紊乱 表型。我们正在研究一组特殊的嗅觉神经元， 犁鼻感觉神经元经历细胞迁移，隔室 形成和轴突生长，以形成复杂的地形图。 有趣的是，这些细胞位于距离隔室中， 由它们表达的Eph配体的性质定义。高度 这组神经元的特殊性质使我们能够操纵 这个系统从遗传学上研究Eph受体的作用， 这些细胞中的配体对发育没有重大影响， 生物体的繁殖状态。实验旨在辨别 Eph受体信号传导的细胞和分子机制，以及如何 这些信号导致细胞图案化。这些遗传学方法 专门神经元系统可以更普遍地适用于细胞 神经系统外的过程。

Receptor tyrosine kinases were originally identified as cellular homologs of viral oncogenes that elicit cellular transformation. Receptor tyrosine kinases play essential roles in cell signaling and lead to diverse cellular processes, including cell proliferation, differentiation, and survival. A large new subfamily of receptor tyrosine kinases, the Eph family, may be responsible for a unique array of cellular properties, including cell migration, cell adhesion, and axon guidance affording cell information as to where they are and who their neighbors are. In this manner, alterations in the Eph receptor ligand system may contribute to disarray in cell growth and cell migration characteristic of the tumor phenotype. We are studying a specialized set of olfactory neurons, the vomeronasal sensory neurons that undergo cell migration, compartment formation and axon outgrowth to form a complex topographic map. Interestingly, these cells reside within distance compartments that are defined by the nature of the Eph ligands that they express. The highly specialized nature of this set of neurons has permitted us to manipulate this system to genetically examine the role of the Eph receptors and their ligands in these cells without major effect upon the development or reproductive status of the organism. Experiments are designed to discern the cellular and molecular mechanisms of Eph receptor signaling, and how these signals result in cell patterning. These genetic approaches in this specialized neuronal system may be more generally applicable to cellular processes outside of the nervous system.