Molecular Cloning of Two Novel Transmembrane Ligands for Eph-Related Kinases (LERKS) that are Related to LERK-2

A search of the nucleic acid database of expressed sequence tags (ESTs) revealed several partial cDNA sequences that could encode proteins homologous to the ligands for Eph-related kinases (LERKs). Oligonucleotides designed from the ESTs were used to probe a human brain cDNA library and obtain overlapping clones that encoded two different novel LERKS (NLERK-1 and NLERK-2). NLERK-1 and NLERK-2 are most closely related to human LERK-2/Elk-ligand and they form a subclass of LERKs that contain a transmembrane domain and a conserved cytoplasmic domain. Full-length NLERK-1 was expressed as a glycosylated membrane protein in COS cells and was not secreted into the medium. Full-length NLERK-2 was similarly expressed in COS cells but both membrane-bound and a truncated, proteolytically-released form were detected. Engineered forms of both NLERK-1 and NLERK-2 lacking transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains were also expressed in COS cells and each was detected in the extracellular medium.