Shark, a Src homology 2, ankyrin repeat, tyrosine kinase, is expressed on the apical surfaces of ectodermal epithelia.

AW Ferrante Jr, R Reinke… - Proceedings of the …, 1995 - National Acad Sciences
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 1995National Acad Sciences
Tyrosine kinases, ankyrin repeats, and Src homology 2 domains play central roles in
developmental processes. The cloning of a cDNA for Shark, a single protein that possesses
all three domains, is described. During Drosophila embryogenesis, Shark is expressed
exclusively by ectodermally derived epithelia and is localized preferentially to the apical
surface of these cells. This apical localization persists, even as tissues undergo complex
invaginations, moving from the external surface of embryos to form internal structures, but …
Tyrosine kinases, ankyrin repeats, and Src homology 2 domains play central roles in developmental processes. The cloning of a cDNA for Shark, a single protein that possesses all three domains, is described. During Drosophila embryogenesis, Shark is expressed exclusively by ectodermally derived epithelia and is localized preferentially to the apical surface of these cells. This apical localization persists, even as tissues undergo complex invaginations, moving from the external surface of embryos to form internal structures, but expression is lost when cells lose their polarity. This pattern closely mimics the expression of Crumbs, a protein necessary for proper organization of ectodermal epithelia. Shark's structure and localization pattern suggest that it functions in a signaling pathway for epithelial cell polarity, possibly transducing the Crumbs signal.
National Acad Sciences