EMBRYONIC AND ADULT EXPRESSION PATTERNS OF THE TEC TYROSINE KINASE GENE SUGGEST A ROLE IN MEGAKARYOCYTOPOIESIS, BLOOD-VESSEL DEVELOPMENT, AND MELANOGENESIS

The Tec cytoplasmic tyrosine kinase is a member of a family of src-lik e proteins that are thought to play important roles in hematopoiesis. Here we describe the temporal and spatial expression of the Tec gene d uring embryogenesis and in the adult. Our data demonstrate that embryo nic Tec expression is restricted to distinct hematopoietic cells as we ll as structures and cell types that share a common feature of contain ing fluid in an enclosed cavity, e.g., endothelial cells. In addition, Tec is expressed in melanocytes late in gestation. The observed devel opmental expression pattern of Tec suggests a role for this gene in se veral aspects of hematopoiesis and/or blood vessel development as well as in late stages of melanogenesis.