Open Accessaxl, a Transforming Gene Isolated from Primary Human Myeloid Leukemia Cells, Encodes a Novel Receptor Tyrosine Kinase
Author(s) -
JP O'Bryan,
Roy A. Frye,
Patricia C. Cogswell,
Andreas Neubauer,
B Kitch,
Carol Prokop,
R. Espinosa,
Michelle M. Le Beau,
H. Shelton Earp,
E T Liu
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
molecular and cellular biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.14
H-Index - 327
eISSN - 1067-8824
pISSN - 0270-7306
DOI - 10.1128/mcb.11.10.5016-5031.1991
Subject(s) - biology , axl receptor tyrosine kinase , receptor tyrosine kinase , myeloid leukemia , cd135 , cancer research , tyrosine kinase , ror1 , microbiology and biotechnology , platelet derived growth factor receptor , genetics , receptor , jak stat signaling pathway , growth factor
Using a sensitive transfection-tumorigenicity assay, we have isolated a novel transforming gene from the DNA of two patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia. Sequence analysis indicates that the product of this gene, axl, is a receptor tyrosine kinase. Overexpression of axl cDNA in NIH 3T3 cells induces neoplastic transformation with the concomitant appearance of a 140-kDa axl tyrosine-phosphorylated protein. Expression of axl cDNA in the baculovirus system results in the expression of the appropriate recombinant protein that is recognized by antiphosphotyrosine antibodies, confirming that the axl protein is a tyrosine kinase. The juxtaposition of fibronectin type III and immunoglobulinlike repeats in the extracellular domain, as well as distinct amino acid sequences in the kinase domain, indicate that the axl protein represents a novel subclass of receptor tyrosine kinases.