ABL kinases regulate FGF signaling independent of CRK phosphorylation to prevent Peters anomaly type II (opens in new tab)

Peters anomaly is an anterior segment dysgenesis and a leading cause of congenital corneal opacity. Here, we show that loss of ABL kinases restores lens induction in the absence of FGF signaling but induces Peters anomaly type II independently of ERK signaling, a phenotype also observed with elevated FGF–Ras activity. This defect is rescued by allelic deletion of the ABL substrates CRK and CRKL. Contrary to prevailing models, ABL kinases do not act through direct phosphorylation of CRK protei...