Expression of CRYP-alpha, LAR, PTP-delta, and PTP-rho in the developing Xenopus visual system

Receptor protein tyrosine phosphatases (RPTPs), are involved in axon outgro wth and guidance not only in the Drosophila visual system (Garrity et al., 1999. Neuron 22, 707-717) but also in the developing vertebrate retina (Led ig et al., 1999a. J. Cell Biol. 147, 375-388). We have cloned a variety of Xenopus RPTPs, including four RPTPs expressed in the developing visual syst em (LAR, PTP-delta, CRYP-alpha and PTP-rho). These four RPTPs are transcrib ed in the developing optic vesicle during differentiation and in overlappin g but distinct patterns in the developing retina during retinal layer forma tion. LAR, PTP-delta, and CRYP-alpha are also expressed in retinal ganglion cells during axonogenesis and during axon guidance from the retina to the optic tectum. (C) 2000 Elsevier science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.