Identification and characterization of RPTP rho, a novel RPTP mu/kappa-like receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase whose expression is restricted to the central nervous system. 
We describe the cloning, chromosomal localization and characterization of RPTPrho, a new member of the RPTPmu/kappa phosphatase subfamily.  Receptor tyrosine phosphatases in this subfamily are comprised of a MAM domain near the N-terminal, an immunoglobulin-like domain, four fibronectin type III repeats, a single transmembrane domain, and a large juxtamembrane segment followed by two intracellular phosphatase domains.  An alternatively spliced mini-exon was identified in the extracellular segment of RPTPrho, between the fourth fibronectin type III repeat and the transmembrane domain.  The RPTPrho gene was mapped to human chromosome 20 and mouse chromosome 2.  Northern blot analysis demonstrated that RPTPrho expression was restricted to the central nervous system, and in situ hybridization studies showed that the RPTPrho transcript was distributed throughout the murine brain and spinal cord.  Exceptionally high levels of the transcript were present in the cortex and olfactory bulbs during perinatal development, but were down-regulated during postnatal week two.  The motifs found in the extracellular segment of type II receptor protein tyrosine phosphatases are commonly found in neural cell adhesion molecules, suggesting that RPTPrho may be involved in both signal transduction and cellular adhesion in the central nervous system.