Open AccessFetal liver kinase 1 is a receptor for vascular endothelial growth factor and is selectively expressed in vascular endothelium.
Author(s) -
Tim Quinn,
Kevin G. Peters,
Carlie de Vries,
Napoleone Ferrara,
Lewis T. Williams
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.90.16.7533
Subject(s) - kinase insert domain receptor , biology , vascular endothelial growth factor , vascular endothelial growth factor b , vascular endothelial growth factor a , tyrosine kinase , microbiology and biotechnology , vascular endothelial growth factor c , vascular permeability , autophosphorylation , s1pr1 , tropomyosin receptor kinase c , receptor tyrosine kinase , vascular endothelial growth inhibitor , endocrinology , receptor , signal transduction , protein kinase a , platelet derived growth factor receptor , cancer research , kinase , growth factor , biochemistry , vegf receptors
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), also known as vascular permeability factor, induces endothelial proliferation in vitro and vascular permeability in vivo. The human transmembrane c-fms-like tyrosine kinase Flt-1 has recently been identified as a VEGF receptor. Flt-1 kinase has seven immunoglobulin-like extracellular domains and a kinase insert sequence, features shared by two other human gene-encoded proteins, kinase insert domain-containing receptor (KDR) and FLT-4. In this study we show that the mouse homologue of KDR, Flk-1, is a second functional VEGF receptor. Flk-1 binds VEGF with high affinity, undergoes autophosphorylation, and mediates VEGF-dependent Ca2+ efflux in Xenopus oocytes injected with Flk-1 mRNA. We also demonstrate by in situ hybridization that Flk-1 protein expression in the mouse embryo is restricted to the vascular endothelium and the umbilical cord stroma. VEGF and its receptors Flk-1/KDR and Flt-1 may play a role in vascular development and regulation of vascular permeability.