Delta/Notch Like EGF Repeat Containing Protein (dNER)

DNER contains an N-terminal signal sequence and 10 distinct EGF-like motifs. The final EGF-like repeat displays a typical signature of a calcium-binding domain important for molecular orientation. DNER also has a single transmembrane region and an intracellular C-terminal region containing potential tyrosine kinase phosphorylation sites, a typical tyrosine-based sorting signal (YEEF), and a dileucine-type sorting signal (LI). Northern blot analysis of several mouse tissues revealed a 3.7-kb transcript that was predominantly expressed in brain. Western blot analysis of mouse brain lysates revealed a molecular mass of about 90 kD, with 2 higher molecular mass species occasionally detected. In situ hybridization revealed that Dner mRNA was almost exclusively expressed in the mouse central nervous system as early as embryonic day 14.5.