Receptor-like Tyrosine Phosphatase Research Articles

Identification of a hormonally regulated protein tyrosine phosphatase associated with bone and testicular differentiation.

Absence of the tyrosine kinase activity of c-src and c-fms results in impairment of bone remodeling. Such dysfunction underscores the importance of tyrosine phosphorylation, yet the role of protein tyrosine phosphatases in bone metabolism remains unexamined. We have isolated the cDNA for a novel receptor-like tyrosine phosphatase expressed in bone and testis named osteotesticular protein tyrosine phosphatase (OST-PTP). The deduced 1711-residue protein possesses an extracellular domain with 10 fibronectin type III repeats and a cytoplasmic region with two catalytic domains. In primary rat osteoblasts, the 5.8-kilobase OST-PTP transcript is up-regulated in differentiating cultures and down-regulated in late stage mineralizing cultures. In addition, a presumed alternate transcript of 4.8-5.0 kilobases, which may lack PTP domains, is present in proliferating osteoblasts, but not detectable at other stages. Parathyroid hormone, a modulator of bone function, as well as cyclic AMP analogues, increase OST-PTP mRNA 5-8-fold in UMR 106 cells. In situ hybridization of adult rat testis revealed stage-specific expression of OST-PTP. OST-PTP may function in signaling pathways during bone remodeling, as well as serve a broader role in cell interactions associated with differentiation in bone and testis.

The receptor-like protein tyrosine phosphatase HPTP alpha has two active catalytic domains with distinct substrate specificities.

Cloning and expression of the homologous domains of the receptor-like tyrosine phosphatase HPTP alpha shows that both domain 1 (D1) and domain 2 (D2) are enzymatically active. The two domains display different substrate specificities with D1 preferentially dephosphorylating MBP approximately RR-src greater than PNPP while D2 favours PNPP much much greater than RR-src and is inactive towards MBP. Each domain has lower activity than an expressed protein containing both domains. Analysis of chimaeric D1/2 proteins suggests that no particular region of D2 is responsible for the low activity of D2 on RR-src and that the specificity differences of D1 and D2 reflect overall sequence dissimilarities. Activities of D1 and D2 are inhibited by zinc, vanadate and EDTA and differentially susceptible to inhibition by heparin and poly(Glu4:Tyr1). Unusually, the activity of the protein containing both domains is stimulated by these polyanions. Regions amino-terminal to each domain are important for catalysis since deletion of these sequences abolishes phosphatase activity. Activity of the double domain polypeptide was also lost upon deletion of the sequence amino-terminal to D1, indicating that inactivation of D1 may suppress D2 activity. Differences in substrate specificity and responses to effectors and the interdependence between the two domains are likely important properties in the function of this PTPase in signal transduction.

Two Drosophila receptor-like tyrosine phosphatase genes are expressed in a subset of developing axons and pioneer neurons in the embryonic CNS

Two Drosophila receptor-like tyrosine phosphatase genes, DPTP99A and DPTP10D, were characterized. Protein products of these genes show distinct expression patterns specific to subsets of developing CNS axons. DPTP99A expression coincides with the onset of axonogenesis and is expressed in several pioneer neurons, including aCC and RP2, which pioneer the intersegmental nerve; its proteins are transiently expressed in the intersegmental and segmental nerves, arguing for a role in the establishment of these nerves. Both genes produce complex sets of transcripts, owing to the alternative utilization of exons and polyadenylation sites. Each gene produces alternative protein forms, which differ in their C-terminal tails. The deduced proteins possess extracellular FN-III repeats and intracellular PTPase domain(s). We discuss the implications of these results and the role of protein tyrosine dephosphorylation in axon outgrowth and guidance.