title: A structure-function analysis of NOD, a kinesin-like protein from Drosophila melanogaster.
abstract: We have analyzed a collection of 12 mutations in the Drosophila melanogaster nod locus, which encodes a kinesin-like protein involved in female meiotic chromosome segregation. The kinesin-like domain is at the N-terminus of the protein, while the C-terminal portion of the protein is unique. Four of the mutations are missense and affect highly conserved domains of the kinesin-like portion of the predicted protein, and thus demonstrate that the sequence conservation is biologically relevant. Surprisingly, two other mutations, which behave genetically as null alleles, are the result of mutations in the last exon of the nod gene. Thus, these two mutations affect the most C-terminal residues in the unique portion of the predicted protein. Based on these mutations, we suggest that this part of the protein may also be essential for wild-type function. The mutations were induced by either gamma-rays or ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS). All of the gamma-ray induced mutations were small or large chromosomal rearrangements, while all of the EMS mutations were G-->A transitions. These findings are consistent with the biochemical basis of the mode of action of each mutagen.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, University of California, Davis 95616.
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Rasooly
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Tibolla
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Hawley
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D005020:Ethyl Methanesulfonate / Q000633:toxicity; D005260:Female; D005720:Gamma Rays; D017344:Genes, Insect / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D016547:Kinesins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D008868:Microtubule Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D012091:Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D008868:Microtubule Proteins; D004247:DNA; D005020:Ethyl Methanesulfonate; C080298:Nod protein, Drosophila; D016547:Kinesins