Description
Discoidin domain receptor family, member 1, also known as NEP, EDDR1, NTRK4, TRKE, DDR, CAK or RTK6, is a human gene. The protein encoded by this gene is a DDR that is widely expressed in normal and transformed epithelial cells and is activated by various types of collagen. This protein belongs to a subfamily of tyrosine kinase receptors with a homology region to the Dictyostelium discoideum protein discoidin I in their extracellular domain. The fibrillar collagens and immobilized collagen activated DDR1 receptor phosphorylation after prolonged treatment. Bhatt et al.(2000) showed that the protein was highly expressed in the cerebellum of developing and adult mouse brain, and that both DDR1 and Collagen IV were highly expressed in the pial layer of the cerebellar cortex. Cocultures of Collagen I- and IV-expressing mouse pial cells with DDR1-expressing granule cells resulted in granule cell neurite extension. Inhibition of collagen-DDR1 signaling reduced granule cell neurite elongation