The linotte (lio) mutant was first isolated as a memory mutant. The lio gene encodes a putative receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK), homologous to the human protein RYK. This gene has been independently identified in a screen for embryonic nervous system axonal guidance defects and called derailed (drl). Here, we report that linotte mutants present structural brain defects in the adult central compl...

Robust biological signaling networks evolved, through gene duplications, from simple, relatively fragile cascades. Architectural features such as layered configuration, branching and modularity, as well as functional characteristics (e.g., feedback control circuits), enable fail-safe performance in the face of internal and external perturbations. These universal features are exemplified here us...

As a significant space–time infrastructure, the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) provides high-precision positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) information to users all over world. However, GNSS real-time kinematic (RTK) mobile receiver signal attenuation is obvious in complex environments such as under trees, urban canyons, indoors, among others, it incapable of meeting demand mult...

Xmrk encodes a subclass I receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) which has been cloned from the melanoma-inducing locus Tu of the poeciliid fish Xiphophorus. To demonstrate a high oncogenic potential in vivo we transferred the gene into early embryos of the closely related medakafish. Ectopic expression of the Xmrk oncogene under the control of a strong, constitutive promoter (CMVTk) led to the inducti...

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) decreases Na(+) reabsorption across distal nephron epithelia. Activity of the epithelial Na(+) channel (ENaC) is limiting for Na(+) transport in this portion of the nephron. Abnormal ENaC activity and EGF signaling are both associated with polycystic kidney disease localized to the distal nephron. We tested here whether EGF and other ligands for receptor tyrosine k...

Ligand-stimulated receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) are phosphorylated/ubiquitinated, endocytosed and transported to the lysosomes via endosomes/multivesicular bodies, resulting in the attenuation of signal transmission. If this physiological mechanism of RTK signal downregulation is perturbed, signal transduction persists and may contribute to cellular transformation. This article presents seve...

Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) and their downstream signalling pathways have long been hypothesized to play key roles in melanoma development. A decade ago, evidence was derived largely from animal models, RTK expression studies and detection of activated RAS isoforms in a small fraction of melanomas. Predictions that overexpression of specific RTKs implied increased kinase activity and that ...

Though accelerometers have been used to monitor the deformation/deflection of large structures after they are built, relative displacements between different parts of the structure during severe weather conditions cannot be measured accurately due to the lower band limit of accelerometers. Therefore, the current design of large structures can only be termed as being of a "partially closed-loop ...

Tumors with mutant BRAF and those with receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) activation have similar levels of phosphorylated ERK, but only the former depend on ERK signaling for proliferation. The mitogen-activated protein kinase, extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase (MEK)/ERK-dependent transcriptional output was defined as the genes whose expression changes significantly 8 h after MEK inhibi...

Emerging evidence suggests the insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) to be an important mediator of tumor-cell survival and resistance to cytotoxic therapy in multiple myeloma (MM). Recently, members of the cyclolignan family have been shown to selectively inhibit the receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) activity of the IGF-1R beta-chain. The effects of the cyclolignan picropodophyllin (PPP)...