FOXO3a mediates the androgen-dependent regulation of FLIP and contributes to TRAIL-induced apoptosis of LNCaP cells.

Androgen-withdrawal-induced apoptosis (AWIA) is deregulated in androgen refractory prostate cancer. Androgens have been shown to positively regulate expression of the antiapoptotic FADD-like interleukin-1beta-converting enzyme (FLICE)-like inhibitory protein (FLIP), and reduced FLIP expression precedes apoptosis after androgen withdrawal. Here, we show that FLIP protein expression is downregulated in castrated rats, while in LNCaP cells, androgens regulate FLIP in a manner that is dependent on phosphoinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) and Akt signaling. Specifically, treatment of LNCaP cells with LY294002, or expression of either PTEN or a non-phosphorylatable form of FOXO3a (FOXO3aTM), downregulates FLIP protein and mRNA. Conversely, treatment with androgens in the absence of PI3/Akt signaling, or following expression of FOXO3aTM, leads to increased FLIP expression. A FOXO3a binding site was identified in the FLIP promoter and shown necessary for the combined effects of androgens and FOXO3a on FLIP transcription. FOXO3a binds the androgen receptor, suggesting that the transcriptional synergy depends on an interaction between these proteins. Finally, LNCaP cells are sensitized to TRAIL-induced apoptosis by PTEN or LY294002, and rescued by androgens. FOXO3aTM also sensitizes cells to androgen-inhibited TRAIL apoptosis. Androgen rescue was diminished when either FOXO3a or FLIP was reduced by siRNA. These data support a role for FOXO3a in AWIA.

G-protein-independent activation of Tyk2 by the platelet-activating factor receptor.

Platelet-activating factor (PAF) is a potent pro-inflammatory phospholipid with multiple physiological and pathological effects. PAF exerts its activity through a specific heptohelical G-protein coupled receptor, expressed on a variety of cell types, including leukocytes. In this study, we showed that PAF induced a rapid tyrosine phosphorylation of the Tyk2 kinase in the monocytic cell lines U937 and MonoMac-1. PAF-initiated Tyk2 phosphorylation was also observed in COS-7 cells transiently transfected with the human PAF receptor (PAFR) and Tyk2 cDNAs. In addition, we found that Tyk2 co-immunoprecipitated and co-localized with PAFR, independently of ligand binding. Deletion mutants of Tyk2 indicated that the N terminus of the kinase was important for the binding to PAFR. Activation of Tyk2 was followed by a time-dependent 2-4-fold increase in the level of tyrosine phosphorylation of signal transducers and activators of transcription 1 (STAT1), STAT2, and STAT3 and a sustained 2.5-fold increase in STAT5 tyrosine phosphorylation. In MonoMac-1 cells, STAT1 and STAT3 translocated to the nucleus following PAF stimulation, and their translocation in transiently transfected COS-7 cells was shown to be dependent on the presence of Tyk2. In addition, when COS-7 cells were transfected with PAFR and constructs containing PAFR promoter 1, coupled to the luciferase reporter gene, PAF induced a 3.6-fold increase in promoter activation in the presence of Tyk2. Finally, PAFR mutants that could not couple to G-proteins were found to effectively mediate Tyk2 activation and signaling. Taken together, these findings suggest an important role for the Janus kinase/STAT pathway in PAFR signaling, independent of G-proteins, and in the regulation of PAF receptor expression by its ligand.

Activation of Stat3 in v-Src-transformed fibroblasts requires cooperation of Jak1 kinase activity.

Signal transducers and activators of transcription (STATs) are latent cytoplasmic transcription factors that transduce signals from the cell membrane to the nucleus upon activation by tyrosine phosphorylation. Several protein-tyrosine kinases can induce phosphorylation of STATs in cells, including Janus kinase (JAK) and Src family kinases. One STAT family member, Stat3, is constitutively activated in Src-transformed NIH3T3 cells and is required for cell transformation. However, it is not entirely clear whether Src kinase can phosphorylate Stat3 directly or through another pathway, such as JAK family kinases. To address this question, we investigated the phosphorylation of STATs in baculovirus-infected Sf-9 insect cells in the presence of Src. Our results show that Src can tyrosine-phosphorylate Stat1 and Stat3 but not Stat5 in this system. The phosphorylated Stat1 and Stat3 proteins are functionally activated, as measured by their abilities to specifically bind DNA oligonucleotide probes. In addition, the JAK family member Jak1 efficiently phosphorylates Stat1 but not Stat3 in Sf-9 cells. By contrast, we observe that AG490, a JAK family-selective inhibitor, and dominant negative Jak1 protein can significantly inhibit Stat3-induced DNA binding activity as well as Stat3-mediated gene activation in NIH3T3 cells. Furthermore, wild-type or kinase-inactive platelet-derived growth factor receptor enhances Stat3 activation by v-Src, consistent with the receptor serving a scaffolding function for recruitment and activation of Stat3. Our results demonstrate that Src kinase is capable of activating STATs in Sf-9 insect cells without expression of JAK family members; however, Jak1 and platelet-derived growth factor receptor are required for maximal Stat3 activation by Src kinase in mammalian cells. Based on these findings, we propose a model in which Jak1 serves to recruit Stat3 to a receptor complex with Src kinase, which in turn directly phosphorylates and activates Stat3 in Src-transformed fibroblasts.

Common mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 do not contribute to early prostate cancer in Jewish men.

BACKGROUND: Families with a high incidence of hereditary breast cancer, and subsequently shown to have terminating mutations in BRCA1 or BRCA2, appear to have a higher incidence of prostate cancer among male relatives. We aimed to determine whether the common germline mutations of BRCA1 or BRCA2 in Ashkenazi Jewish men predisposed them to prostate cancer. METHODS: We examined genomic DNA from 83 (for BRCA1 185delAG) or 82 (for BRCA2 6174delT) Ashkenazi Jewish prostate cancer patients, most of whom were treated at a relatively young age, for the most common germline mutation in each gene seen in the Ashkenazi population. RESULTS: Our study should have been able to detect a 4-5-fold increase in the risk of prostate cancer due to mutation of BRCA1 or BRCA2. However, only one (1.15%; 95% confidence interval, 0-3.6%) of the patients was heterozygous for the BRCA1 mutant allele, and only two were heterozygous for the BRCA2 mutation (2.4%; 95% confidence interval, 0-6.2%). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of each of the germline mutations in these prostate cancer patients closely matched their incidence (about 1%) in the general Ashkenazi Jewish population. This suggests that unlike cases of breast and ovarian cancers, mutations in BRCA1 or BRCA2 do not significantly predispose men to prostate cancer.

Identification of amino acid residues critical for the Src-homology 2 domain-dependent docking of Stat2 to the interferon alpha receptor.

The interaction between Src-homology 2 domains (SH2) domains and phosphorylated tyrosine residues serves a critical role in intracellular signaling. In addition to the phosphotyrosine, adjacent residues are critical mediators of the specificity of this interaction. Upon treatment of cells with interferon alpha (IFNalpha), the IFNaR1 subunit of the IFNalpha receptor becomes tyrosine phosphorylated at position 466. The region surrounding phosphorylated tyrosine 466 subsequently acts as a docking site for the SH2 domain of Stat2, facilitating phosphorylation of the latter and, thus, the transduction of the IFNalpha signal. In this report site-specific mutagenesis was employed to analyze the nature of the interaction between the SH2 domain of Stat2 and the region surrounding tyrosine 466 on IFNaR1. Mutation of the valine at the +1 position carboxyl-terminal to tyrosine 466 or of the serine at the +5 position inhibits the association of Stat2 with phosphorylated IFNaR1. Moreover, receptors mutated at either of these two positions act in a dominant manner to decrease IFNalpha signaling, as assayed by both Stat2 phosphorylation and expression of an IFNalpha-responsive reporter. The demonstration that these two residues are critical in mediating the interaction between Stat2 and IFNaR1 suggests that STAT proteins might utilize a structurally distinct subset of SH2 domains to mediate signal transduction from the cell surface to the nucleus.

Sporadic breast cancers exhibit loss of heterozygosity on chromosome segment 10q23 close to the Cowden disease locus.

Cowden disease, a dominantly inherited syndrome characterized by a variety of proliferative lesions and predisposition to breast and thyroid cancer, has recently been linked to the polymorphic marker D10S215 on chromosome segment 10q23. Loss of heterozygosity in prostate cancer is linked to the same marker, whereas loss of heterozygosity in glioblastoma, endometrial cancer, and other malignancies also localizes to this region. Most recently, a putative tumor suppressor gene (PTEN/MMAC1) has been identified in the region between D10S215 and an adjacent, more telomeric marker (D10S541) and was found to be altered in breast cancers, prostate cancers, and glioblastomas. We examined 22 invasive breast cancers for loss of heterozygosity in the 10q23 region and found loss in 41% (9/22). There were two distinct regions of loss, including one near the D10S541 marker, with an approximately equal frequency of deletion in each. The observed pattern of deletion is consistent with the presence of a tumor suppressor gene between D10S215 and D10S541. Most of the poorly differentiated carcinomas in the case collection showed loss of heterozygosity in the region near D10S215, suggesting that this loss correlates with a poor prognosis.

Definition of the interferon-alpha receptor-binding domain on the TYK2 kinase.

Interferons and cytokines modulate gene expression via a simple, direct signaling pathway containing receptors, JAK tyrosine kinases, and STAT transcription factors. The interferon-alpha pathway is a model for these cascades. Two receptors, IFNaR1 and IFNaR2, associate exclusively in a constitutive manner with two JAK proteins, TYK2 and JAK1, respectively. Defining the molecular interface between JAK proteins and their receptors is critical to understanding the signaling pathway and may contribute to the development of novel therapeutics. This report defines the IFNaR1 interaction domain on TYK2. In vitro binding studies demonstrate that the amino-terminal half of TYK2, which is approximately 600 amino acids long and contains JAK homology (JH) domains 3-7, comprises the maximal binding domain for IFNaR1. A fragment containing amino acids 171-601 (JH3-6) also binds IFNaR1, but with reduced affinity. Glutathione S-transferase-TYK2 fusion proteins approximating either the JH6 or JH3 domain affinity-precipitate IFNaR1, suggesting that these are major sites of interaction within the larger binding domain. TYK2 amino acids 1-601 act in a dominant manner to inhibit the transcription of an interferon-alpha-dependent reporter gene, presumably by displacing endogenous TYK2 from the receptor. This same fragment inhibits interferon-alpha-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation of TYK2, STAT1, and STAT2.

Convenient, nonradioactive, heteroduplex-based methods for identifying recurrent mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes.

The ability to identify individuals who are predisposed to specific malignant tumors is a promising molecular diagnostic by-product of over two decades of intensive research into the genetic pathogenesis of human cancer. Approximately 2% of Ashkenazi Jews carry recurrent germline mutations in either the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes that may predispose these individuals to the development of breast and ovarian cancer. We have developed a nonisotopic method, based on the formation of heteroduplexes between polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplified wild-type and mutant alleles, which can be used to identify the BRCA1 185delAG and the BRCA2 6174delT mutations. The same assay can also be used to verify the loss of heterozygosity in a tumor sample arising in an individual with a germline mutation. The four steps described in this report (PCR amplification, heteroduplex formation, acrylamide gel electrophoresis, and ethidium bromide staining/UV-fluorescence photography) can be readily and reproducibly performed in the course of a single day, making this a useful method for the routine identification of these mutations.

Beta interferon and oncostatin M activate Raf-1 and mitogen-activated protein kinase through a JAK1-dependent pathway.

Activation of early response genes by interferons (IFNs) and other cytokines requires tyrosine phosphorylation of a family of transcription factors termed signal transducers and activators of transcription (Stats). The Janus family of tyrosine kinases (Jak1, Jak2, Jak3, and Tyk2) is required for cytokine-induced tyrosine phosphorylation and dimerization of the Stat proteins. In order for IFNs to stimulate maximal expression of Stat1alpha-regulated genes, phosphorylation of a serine residue in the carboxy terminus by mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) is also required. In HeLa cells, both IFN-beta and oncostatin M (OSM) stimulated MAPK and Raf-1 enzyme activity, in addition to Stat1 and Stat3 tyrosine phosphorylation. OSM stimulation of Raf-1 correlated with GTP loading of Ras, whereas IFN-beta activation of Raf-1 was Ras independent. IFN-beta- and OSM-induced Raf-1 activity could be coimmunoprecipitated with either Jak1 or Tyk2. Furthermore, HeLa cells lacking Jak1 displayed no activation of STAT1alpha, STAT3, and Raf-1 by IFN-beta or OSM and also demonstrated no increase in the relative level of GTP-bound p21ras in response to OSM. The requirement for Jak1 for IFN-beta- and OSM-induced activation of Raf-1 was also seen in Jak1-deficient U4A fibrosarcoma cells. Interestingly, basal MAPK, but not Raf-1, activity was constitutively enhanced in Jak1-deficient HeLa cells. Transient expression of Jak1 in both Jak-deficient HeLa cells and U4A cells reconstituted the ability of IFN-beta and OSM to activate Raf-1 and decreased the basal activity of MAPK, while expression of a kinase-inactive form of the protein showed no effect. Moreover, U4A cells selected for stable expression of Jak1, or COS cells transiently expressing Jak1 or Tyk2 but not Jak3, exhibited enhanced Raf-1 activity. Therefore, it appears that Jak1 is required for Raf-1 activation by both IFN-beta and OSM. These results provide evidence for a link between the Jaks and the Raf/MAPK signaling pathways.

Kinase-deficient forms of Jak1 and Tyk2 inhibit interferon alpha signaling in a dominant manner.

Signaling by interferon alpha (IFN alpha), an extracellular factor that mediates a number of anti-viral and growth-suppressive effects, requires two members of the Janus family of tyrosine kinases (JAK family): Jak1 and Tyk2. IFN alpha treatment of cells induces the rapid tyrosine phosphorylation of these two kinases, two subunits of the IFN alpha receptor, and two members of the signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) family of latent transcription factors. These proteins are believed to be direct substrates of one or both JAKs. Though the requirement for both Jak1 and Tyk2 in the IFN alpha-signaling cascade is well established, the order of activation and the relative contribution of the two kinases has not been elucidated completely. To address these questions, we have employed kinase-deficient mutants of both enzymes. Both mutant kinases suppress transcriptional activation as measured by an IFN alpha-dependent reporter-gene assay. Furthermore, in transient-transfection assays, the kinase-deficient versions of Tyk2 and Jak1 can act independently to inhibit STAT phosphorylation. Thus, kinase-deficient versions of JAK can act in a dominant-negative fashion to suppress IFN alpha signaling. The effects of the overexpressed mutant kinases on the phosphorylation of the kinases themselves, however, are unequal, suggesting that Jak1 functions upstream of Tyk2.

The vav proto-oncogene product (p95vav) interacts with the Tyk-2 protein tyrosine kinase.

The vav proto-oncogene product participates in the signaling pathways activated by various cell-surface receptors, including the type I IFN receptor. During engagement of the type I IFN receptor, p95vav is phosphorylated on tyrosine residues, but the kinase regulating its phosphorylation has not been identified to date. Our studies demonstrate that p95vav forms a stable complex with the IFN-receptor-associated Tyk-2 kinase in vivo, and strongly suggest that this kinase regulates its phosphorylation on tyrosine. Thus, p95vav is engaged in IFN-signaling by a direct interaction with the functional type I IFN receptor complex to transduce downstream signals.

Dimerization of a chimeric CD4-interferon-alpha receptor reconstitutes the signaling events preceding STAT phosphorylation.

Interferon-alpha induces the rapid tyrosine phosphorylation of a number of molecules, including the cognate receptors, JAK-family kinases (Jak1 and tyk2), and latent transcription factors (STATs 1 and 2). Here, we describe the use of chimeric molecules composed of the extracellular domain of CD4 fused to the intracellular domain of the interferon-alpha receptor subunit 1 (IFNaR1). Antibody mediated crosslinking dimerizes the transfected chimeras, activates tyk2 and induces a tyk2-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation of the intracellular domain of the chimera. We further define the major site of IFNaR1 phosphorylation, and show that phosphorylation of this site is required for association with STAT2. Finally, we show that homodimerization of IFNaR1 is not sufficient to activate the STATs, suggesting a role for the IFNaR2 subunit and Jak1 in the transduction of the interferon-alpha signal.

Molecular characterization of an alpha interferon receptor 1 subunit (IFNaR1) domain required for TYK2 binding and signal transduction.

Binding of alpha interferon (IFNalpha) to its receptors induces rapid tyrosine phosphorylation of the receptor subunits IFNaR1 and IFNaR2, the TYK2 and JAK1 tyrosine kinases, and the Stat1 and Stat2 transcription factors. Previous studies have demonstrated that TYK2 directly and specifically binds to and tyrosine phosphorylates IFNaR1 in vitro. We now report a detailed analysis of the TYK2 binding domain on the IFNaR1 subunit. First, we used an in vitro binding assay to identify the TYK2 binding motif in IFNaR1 as well as the critical residues within this region. The most striking feature is the importance of a number of hydrophobic and acidic residues. A minor role is also ascribed to a region resembling the proline-rich "box 1" sequence. In addition, mutations which disrupt in vitro binding also disrupt the coimmunoprecipitation of the receptor and TYK2. We also provide direct evidence that the binding region is both necessary and sufficient to activate TYK2 in vivo. Specifically, mutations in the binding domain act in a dominant-negative fashion to inhibit the IFNalpha-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of TYK2 and Stat2. Further, introduction of dimerized glutathione S-transferase-IFNaR1 fusion proteins into permeabilized cells is sufficient to induce phosphorylation of TYK2 and the receptor, confirming the role of the binding domain in IFNalpha signal transduction. These studies provide clues to the sequences determining the specificity of the association between JAK family tyrosine kinases and cytokine receptors as well as the functional role of these kinases in cytokine signal transduction.

A mutant form of p135tyk2, an interferon-alpha inducible tyrosine kinase, suppresses the transformed phenotype of Daudi cells.

The type I interferons induce an anti-viral state and suppress cell growth. The p135tyk2 non-receptor tyrosine kinase appears to initiate, at least in part, the type I interferon signal transduction pathway, and thereby activates type I interferon-dependent gene expression. To determine if p135tyk2 can suppress growth and/or tumorigenesis, derivatives of the tyk2 gene were introduced into the tumorigenic cell line Daudi. Transfectants expressing a tyk2 construct missing the carboxy-terminal 22 amino acids cloned with a greatly reduced efficiency in soft agar and displayed a partial decrease in the ability to form tumors in athymic mice. In addition, transfectants producing a kinase deficient version of tyk2 show an increase in both growth rate and agar cloning efficiency, suggesting that the inactive kinase can act in a dominant-negative manner. Surprisingly, the carboxyl-terminal deleted protein lacks both auto-kinase activity, and activity towards a putative substrate, even though it induces a phenotype which is precisely the opposite of that produced by another kinase-deficient tyk2 mutant containing an altered ATP binding site. Thus, while these results add tyk2 to a growing list of interferon-alpha regulated proteins that might be able to suppress tumor formation, the biochemical basis of this activity remains unknown.

Phosphorylated interferon-alpha receptor 1 subunit (IFNaR1) acts as a docking site for the latent form of the 113 kDa STAT2 protein.

Interferon-alpha (IFN alpha) induces rapid tyrosine phosphorylation of its receptors, two JAK kinases and three STAT transcription factors. One kinase, p135tyk2, is complexed with the IFNaR1 receptor, and may catalyze some of these phosphorylation events. We demonstrate that, in vitro, p135tyk2 phosphorylates two tyrosines on IFNaR1. A phosphopeptide corresponding to the major phosphorylation site (Tyr466) binds STAT2, but not STAT1, in an SH-2-dependent manner. Furthermore, only latent, non-phosphorylated STAT2 interacts with this phosphopeptide. When this phosphopeptide is introduced into permeabilized cells, the IFN alpha-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation of both STATs is blocked. Finally, mutant versions of IFNaR1, in which Tyr466 is changed to phenylalanine, can act in a dominant negative manner to inhibit phosphorylation of STAT2. These observations are consistent with a model in which IFNaR1 mediates the interaction between JAK kinases and the STAT transcription factors.

Association of the interferon-dependent tyrosine kinase Tyk-2 with the hematopoietic cell phosphatase.

The tyrosine kinase Tyk-2 is physically associated with the Type I interferon (IFN) receptor complex and is rapidly activated during IFN alpha stimulation. We report that Tyk-2 forms stable complexes with the SH2-containing hematopoietic cell phosphatase (HCP) in several hematopoietic cell lines in vivo, and that the IFN alpha-induced tyrosine-phosphorylated form of Tyk-2 is a substrate for the phosphatase activity of HCP in in vitro assays. Furthermore, treatment of cells with the phosphatase inhibitor sodium orthovanadate induces tyrosine phosphorylation of Tyk-2 and an associated 115-kDa protein. Altogether, these data suggest that HCP regulates tyrosine phosphorylation of the Tyk-2 kinase, and thus its function may be important in the transmission of signals generated at the Type I IFN receptor level.

p135tyk2, an interferon-alpha-activated tyrosine kinase, is physically associated with an interferon-alpha receptor.

Recent genetic studies have linked the tyk2 gene, which encodes a novel type of non-receptor tyrosine kinase, to the interferon-alpha intracellular signaling pathway. In this report, biochemical evidence is presented which supports this proposed function for the tyk2 tyrosine kinase and further defines its role in the interferon-alpha signaling cascade. Specifically, the tyk2 gene is shown to encode a 135-kDa protein which is rapidly phosphorylated on tyrosine in response to interferon-alpha treatment. Indirect evidence suggests that the tyrosine phosphorylation of p135tyk2 is the result of autokinase activity, implying that the Tyk2 tyrosine kinase is activated by interferon-alpha treatment. Two complementary methods demonstrate a physical association between p135tyk2 and the alpha-subunit of the interferon-alpha receptor. First, immunoblots show that monoclonal antibodies against the alpha-subunit of the interferon-alpha receptor can co-immunoprecipitate p135tyk2. Second, interferon-alpha receptor proteins which have been labeled by affinity cross-linking with 125I-interferon-alpha 2 can be co-immunoprecipitated using anti-tyk2 antisera. Taken together, these data suggest that an interferon-alpha receptor-p135tyk2 complex functions, in a manner analogous to the CD4-lck tyrosine kinase complex, to initiate the interferon-alpha signaling cascade.

Interferon alpha (IFN alpha) signaling in cells expressing the variant form of the type I IFN receptor.

Two different Type I interferon receptors (IFN-R) have been described: the normal and the variant receptors. The alpha subunit of the Type I IFN-R has a molecular mass of 110 kDa in cells expressing normal and variant receptors. The beta subunit has a molecular mass of approximately 100 kDa in cells that express normal receptors and 55 kDa in cells expressing the variant form of the receptor. The IFN alpha-resistant U-937 cell line expresses variant receptors and fails to down-regulate and phosphorylate the alpha subunit on tyrosine residues. We report that two other myelomonocytic cell lines, YK-M2 and ML-2, also expressing the variant form of the receptor, fail to down-regulate and phosphorylate the alpha subunit on tyrosine residues. However, YK-M2 and ML-2 cells are sensitive to the antiproliferative and antiviral effects of IFN alpha 2, indicating that phosphorylation of the alpha subunit is not necessary to elicit an IFN alpha response and that expression of variant receptors is not a source of IFN alpha resistance. We also determined if other proteins involved in the IFN alpha signal transduction pathway had a different phosphorylation pattern. Treatment of cells expressing variant receptors induced tyrosine phosphorylation of the p135tyk2 tyrosine kinase, and the three interferon-stimulated gene factor 3 alpha (ISGF3 alpha) polypeptides (p113, p91, and p84), albeit at lower levels. These results indicate that cells expressing either form of the Type I IFN-R phosphorylate a similar set of proteins, with the exception of the alpha subunit.

The ltk gene encodes a novel receptor-type protein tyrosine kinase.

Previously, analysis of cDNAs encoding the ltk tyrosine kinase suggested that the structure of this protein was unique among tyrosine kinases, containing a transmembrane domain but only a short, or virtually non-existent, extracellular domain. Further, it was suggested that translational initiation might occur predominantly at a CTG codon. We have now cloned and sequenced a putative full length human ltk cDNA which contains novel sequence information relative to previously identified cDNAs. This ltk cDNA encodes a protein product containing all of the features of typical receptor-type protein tyrosine kinase, including: an ATG translational initiation codon, a secretory signal sequence and a 347 amino acid extracellular domain as well as transmembrane and intracellular kinase domains. Ribonuclease protection analysis indicates that our cloned cDNA represents the most abundant species of mature ltk mRNA. In vitro transcription and translation of the ltk cDNA yields a 100 kDa protein, consistent with initiation at the putative ATG translational codon. In addition, transfection of the ltk cDNA into COS-1 cells produces a similar-sized, glycosylated protein possessing in vitro kinase activity. These data indicate that the ltk gene product likely functions as a cell surface receptor for an unidentified cellular growth factor.