• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.3 s.83
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• pp.350-355
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• 2007

The rat RBL-2H3 mast cells contain various Src-family kinases. Previous reports with this cell line indicated that Lyn activation is an important initial signaling for the activation of the cells. However, the role and location of other Src-family kinase isoforms which are expressed in the cells are not clear. In this study, we now show that isoforms of Src-family kinases, Lyn, fyn, Fgr, c-Src, and Yes are differentially expressed and located differently in the cells as indicated by RT-PCR, immunoblotting analysis, and confocal microscopy. Lyn and Fgr were located on plasma membrane but on the other hand c-Src and Yes were located on intracellular organelle. All of Src-family kinases were cloned and overexpressed for investigating the roles of the isoforms. Overexpression of Fyn and Fgr, not Lyn and c-Src, stimulated Ag-induced degranulation in the cells. Our findings strongly suggest for the first time that each of Src-family kinase isoform can regulate differentially $Fc{\varepsilon}RI$-mediated signaling in RBL-2H3 mast cells.