Overview:

c-MER is a tyrosine kinase and a member of the MER/AXL/TYRO3 receptor kinase family (1). The c-MER gene encodes a transmembrane protein with two fibronectin type-III domains, two Ig-like C2-type domains, and one tyrosine kinase domain. Functional knockout of c-MER in mice shows the mice to have macrophages deficient in the clearance of apoptotic thymocytes thereby demonstrating the critical role for c-MER in the engulfment and efficient clearance of apoptotic cells. Defects in c-MER have been associated with retinitis pigmentosa, a phenotype that can be reversed by replacement of the c-MER gene product (2).

Gene Aliases:

MERTK, Eyk; Mer; nmf12; Nyk

Genbank Number:

NM_008587

References:

1. Graham, D. K. et al: Cloning and mRNA expression analysis of a novel human protooncogene, c-mer. Cell Growth Differ. 5: 647-657, 1994.

2. Gal, A. et al: Mutations in MERTK, the human orthologue of the RCS rat retinal dystrophy gene, cause retinitis pigmentosa. Nature Genet. 26: 270-271, 2000.