Conservation of an inhibitor of the epidermal growth factor receptor, Kekkon1, in dipterans

Genetics. 2004 Jan;166(1):213-24. doi: 10.1534/genetics.166.1.213.

Abstract

Regulation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling requires the concerted action of both positive and negative factors. While the existence of numerous molecules that stimulate EGFR activity has been well documented, direct biological inhibitors appear to be more limited in number and phylogenetic distribution. Kekkon1 (Kek1) represents one such inhibitor. Kek1 was initially identified in Drosophila melanogaster and appears to be absent from vertebrates and the invertebrate Caenorhabditis. To further investigate Kek1's function and evolution, we identified kek1 orthologs within dipterans. In D. melanogaster, kek1 is a transcriptional target of EGFR signaling during oogenesis, where it acts to attenuate receptor activity through an inhibitory feedback loop. The extracellular and transmembrane portion of Kek1 is sufficient for its inhibitory activity in D. melanogaster. Consistent with conservation of its role in EGFR signaling, interspecies comparisons indicate a high degree of identity throughout these regions. During formation of the dorsal-ventral axis Kek1 is expressed in dorsal follicle cells in a pattern that reflects the profile of receptor activation. D. virilis Kek1 (DvKek1) is also expressed dynamically in the dorsal follicle cells, supporting a conserved role in EGFR signaling. Confirming this, biochemical and transgenic assays indicate that DvKek1 is functionally interchangeable with DmKek1. Strikingly, we find that the cytoplasmic domain contains a region with the highest degree of conservation, which we have implicated in EGFR inhibition and dubbed the Kek tail (KT) box.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Anopheles / genetics
  • Anopheles / growth & development
  • Anopheles / metabolism
  • Conserved Sequence
  • Diptera / genetics*
  • Diptera / growth & development
  • Diptera / metabolism*
  • Drosophila / genetics
  • Drosophila / growth & development
  • Drosophila / metabolism
  • Drosophila Proteins / chemistry
  • Drosophila Proteins / genetics*
  • Drosophila Proteins / metabolism*
  • Drosophila melanogaster / genetics
  • Drosophila melanogaster / growth & development
  • Drosophila melanogaster / metabolism
  • ErbB Receptors / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Evolution, Molecular
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
  • Insect Proteins / chemistry
  • Insect Proteins / genetics*
  • Insect Proteins / metabolism*
  • Membrane Proteins / chemistry
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics*
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Oogenesis / genetics
  • Oogenesis / physiology
  • Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases / chemistry
  • Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases / genetics*
  • Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases / metabolism*
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • Drosophila Proteins
  • Insect Proteins
  • Membrane Proteins
  • ErbB Receptors
  • Kek1 protein, Drosophila
  • Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases