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. 1993 Dec 1;90(23):11242–11246. doi: 10.1073/pnas.90.23.11242

Cloning and characterization of a transmembrane serine kinase that acts as an activin type I receptor.

K Tsuchida 1, L S Mathews 1, W W Vale 1
PMCID: PMC47958  PMID: 8248234

Abstract

Activin type II receptors are transmembrane protein-serine/threonine kinases. By using a reverse-transcription PCR assay to screen for protein kinase sequences, we isolated a cDNA clone, activin X1 receptor, from rat brain that encodes a 55-kDa transmembrane protein-serine kinase which is structurally related to other receptors in this kinase subfamily. The predicted protein consists of 509 amino acids, and the kinase domain shows 40% and 37% identity to the activin and transforming growth factor beta type II receptors, respectively. No activin-binding was observed when activin X1 receptor was expressed alone in COS-M6 cells; however, coexpression with type II activin receptors gave rise to a 68-kDa affinity-labeled complex in addition to the 85-kDa type II receptor complex. The size of this cross-linked band is consistent with the size of the type I activin receptor; furthermore, activin X1 receptor associated with type II receptors, as judged by coimmunoprecipitation with type II receptor antibodies. These data suggest that activin X1 receptor can serve as an activin type I receptor and that the diverse biological effects of activins may be mediated by a complex formed by the interaction of two transmembrane protein-serine kinases.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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