A Drosophila gene that is homologous to a mammalian gene associated with tumor metastasis codes for a nucleoside diphosphate kinase.
The product of the abnormal wing discs (awd) gene of Drosophila is 78% identical to the product of the nm23 gene of mammals, which is differentially expressed in certain metastatic tumors. We present evidence that the awd gene codes for a nucleoside diphosphate kinase (NDP kinase) and that this Awd/NDP kinase is microtubule associated. Neuroblasts in Drosophila larvae homozygous for a null mutation in the awd gene are arrested in metaphase, indicating that microtubule-associated Awd/NDP kinase plays a critical role in spindle microtubule polymerization.
Biggs
J
J
Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218.
Hersperger
E
E
Steeg
P S
PS
Liotta
L A
LA
Shearn
A
A
D000483:Alleles; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies; D002417:Cattle; D002875:Chromosomes / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003429:Cross Reactions; D004330:Drosophila / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000201:enzymology; D005796:Genes; D006801:Humans; D007814:Larva; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology; D008870:Microtubules / Q000201:enzymology; D008938:Mitosis; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000235:genetics*; D009701:Nucleoside-Diphosphate Kinase / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
D000906:Antibodies; D009701:Nucleoside-Diphosphate Kinase