title: Physical interactions of Dmnk with Orb: implications in the regulated localization of Orb by Dmnk during oogenesis and embryogenesis.
abstract: The Dmnk (Drosophila maternal nuclear kinase) gene, encoding a nuclear protein serine/threonine kinase, is expressed predominantly in the germline cells during embryogenesis, suggesting its possible role in the establishment of germ cells. We report here that Dmnk interacts physically with Drosophila RNA binding protein Orb, which plays crucial roles in the establishment of Drosophila oocyte by regulating the distribution and translation of several maternal mRNAs. Considering similar spatiotemporal expression pattern of Dmnk and orb during oogenesis and early embryogenesis, it is suggested that Dmnk plays a role in establishment of germ cells by interacting with Orb. Although there are two forms of Dmnk proteins, Dmnk-L (long) and Dmnk-S (short) via the developmentally regulated alternative splicing, Orb can associate with both forms of Dmnk proteins when expressed in culture cells. However, immunohistochemical analysis revealed that Dmnk-S, but not Dmnk-L, can affect the subcellular localization of Orb in a kinase activity-dependent manner, suggesting differential functions of Dmnk-S and Dmnk-L in the regulation of Orb.
authors.affiliation: Division of Biomedical Regulation, Department of Genome Sciences, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, 7-5-1, Kusunoki-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0017, Japan.
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Iwai
authors.forename: Isao
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Oishi
authors.forename: Xiao Zhou
authors.initials: XZ
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Yasuhiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Minami
authors.forename: Hirohei
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamamura
mesh_terms: D017398:Alternative Splicing; D000818:Animals; D019556:COS Cells; D002460:Cell Line; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000201:enzymology; D064447:Checkpoint Kinase 2; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000378:metabolism; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000196:embryology*; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009865:Oocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011233:Precipitin Tests; D011485:Protein Binding; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors; D014162:Transfection; D020798:Two-Hybrid System Techniques
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; C089932:orb protein, Drosophila; D064447:Checkpoint Kinase 2; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; C112435:lok protein, Drosophila