RESTRICTED EXPRESSION OF THE RON GENE ENCODING THE MACROPHAGE STIMULATING PROTEIN-RECEPTOR DURING MOUSE DEVELOPMENT

The human ron gene codes for a transmembrane protein tyrosine kinase w hich is a receptor for the macrophage stimulating protein. The ron rec eptor, together with the hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor recep tor encoded by the proto-oncogene met, and the product of the c-sea pr oto-oncogene, make up a family of structurally related receptors, We h ave cloned murine ron cDNA sequences and used them as probes for in si tu hybridization and Northern blot experiments. We show that ron gene expression occurs relatively late in development, and is much more res tricted than that of the net gene. ron gene expression is detected in specific areas of the central and the peripheric nervous system, as we ll as in discrete cells in developing bones, and in the glandular epit helia along the digestive tract. (C) 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.