EXPRESSION OF RECEPTOR PROTEIN-TYROSINE-PHOSPHATASE-ALPHA MESSENGER-RNA AND PROTEIN DURING MOUSE EMBRYOGENESIS

Receptor protein-tyrosine phosphatase alpha (RPTP alpha) is a transmem brane member of the family of protein-tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) tha t has been implicated in neuronal differentiation in vitro. Here we de monstrate that RPTP alpha is differentially expressed during mouse emb ryogenesis in a spatio-temporal manner. RPTP alpha expression was dete ctable in 6 days post coitum (dpc) embryos, but not in 7.5 dpc embryos . From 10.5 dpc onwards a striking RPTP alpha expression pattern was o bserved with elevated levels in the dorsal root ganglia, cranial gangl ia and adrenal gland, suggesting that RPTP alpha levels are specifical ly enhanced in neural crest derivatives. Marked differences between RP TP alpha mRNA and protein levels indicated that RPTP alpha expression is regulated by transcriptional and (post-) translational mechanisms. The expression pattern of RPTP alpha suggests that RPTP alpha may play a role in neural crest cell differentiation in vivo.