The neurofibromatosis type 2 gene product, merlin, binds, directly to the epidermal growth factor receptor, ErbB2

Abstract

In 1993, the Neurofibromatosis type 2 gene product, merlin or schwannomin was identified by positional cloning and was mapped to chromosome 22q 12 (Rouleau et al., 1993; Trofatter et al., 1993). Individuals with mutations in this gene fail to produce normal merlin and develop the neural disorder, Neurofibromatosis type 2. The disease is characterized by growth of bilateral vestibular schwannomas with associated symptoms of tinnitus, hearing loss, balance dysfunction, meningiomas and other tumors of the nervous system (Ruggieri and Huson, 1999). To date, merlin's molecular mechanism of function as a tumor suppressor protein in cells is not known. In this thesis, we examined merlin's interaction with the epidermal growth factor receptor, erbB2, a receptor known to cause Schwann cell growth. Immunoprecipitation and indirect in vitro protein binding assay using total cell lysate from rat Schwann cells showed that merlin associates with erbB2. This association was further tested in a direct in vitro protein-protein binding assay, which showed that merlin binds directly to erbB2. This data places merlin in the erbB2 signaling pathway.

Notes

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Thesis Completion

2000

Semester

Fall

Advisor

Fernandez-Valle, Cristina

Degree

Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

College

College of Health and Public Affairs

Degree Program

Molecular Biology and Microbiology

Subjects

Dissertations, Academic -- Health and Public Affairs;Health and Public Affairs -- Dissertations, Academic

Format

Print

Identifier

DP0022697

Language

English

Access Status

Open Access

Length of Campus-only Access

None

Document Type

Honors in the Major Thesis

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