title: Identification of a novel Drosophila gene encoding a Cdc2-related protein kinase.
abstract: We have identified a novel gene encoding a putative protein kinase from a Drosophila genomic library. The gene, about 2 kbp in length, consists of four exons and codes for a protein of 349 amino acid residues. The deduced sequence shows significant similarity to various kinases, especially to a subgroup of Ser/Thr kinases related to Cdc2 kinase; thus, the gene was termed Dcdrk (Drosophila cdc2-related kinase gene). Among the kinases examined, mammalian galactosyltransferase-associated 58 kDa protein kinase showed the highest homology (about 50% identity in the kinase domain) to Dcdrk kinase. Northern blot analysis revealed that the Dcdrk mRNA is expressed throughout development in nearly constant amounts. Moreover, a whole mount in situ hybridization experiment showed that the Dcdrk mRNA is ubiquitously distributed in almost all embryonic cells and tissues, suggesting a universal function of Dcdrk, possibly in cell cycle regulation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biophysics and Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Tokyo.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sugaya
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ishimaru
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Saigo
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Emori
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D051357:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 2; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D017344:Genes, Insect; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D007301:Insect Hormones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
chemical_list: D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D007301:Insect Hormones; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D051357:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 2; C087319:cdc2rk protein, Drosophila