pp60c-src encoded by the proto-oncogene c-src is a product of sensory neurons

✍ Scribed by P.F. Maness

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1986
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 1014 KB
• Volume: 16
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0360-4012
• DOI: 10.1002/jnr.490160113

✦ Synopsis

The advent of recombinant DNA technology has led to the identification in the DNA of normal animal cells of over 30 proto-oncogenes that are homologous to retroviral transforming genes. One of these encodes a protein kinase (pp60c-sr") of unknown function, that is preferentially synthesized in brain and neural retina.

Here the expression of pp60c-src in the peripheral nervous system was examined in sensory neurons from chick dorsal root ganglia with antisera raised against the transforming protein of Rous sarcoma virus (pp60v-src) expressed in Escherichia coli carrying the cloned v-src gene. This antiserum recognizes pp60'~"' specifically in normal chicken cells. Western immunoblotting showed that dorsal root ganglia of stage 30 (day 6.5) chick embryos contained elevated levels of pp6OC-"'. Immunoperoxidase staining of neuron-enriched cultures prepared from chick dorsal root ganglia showed pp60c-s'c immunoreactivity in cells with neuronal morphology ; flat, fibroblastic cells contained no detectable immunoreactivity . Indirect double immunofluorescence with pp60"' antibodies and monoclonal antibodies against the 200-kD subunit of neurofilament protein confirmed that the cells expressing pp60c-src were neurons. Ninety-six percent of the neurofilament-positive cells were immunoreactive with pp6OS" antibodies, and conversely, all pp60'-"'-positive cells were immunoreactive with neurofilament antibodies. pp60c-s'c immunofluorescence appeared to be distributed over the cell body, processes, and growth cones. These results clearly demonstrate that pp6OC-"' is a product of neurons and is expressed in sensory neurons in culture.