Multiple studies using the Drosophila multisubstrate deoxyribonucleoside kinase gene Dmel\dnk as a cancer therapeutic have been carried out. Compared to other known deoxyribonucleoside kinases, Dmel\dnk has a broader substrate specificity and a higher catalytic rate; it appears to produce a low level of toxic side effects. Most of these studies have been done in human cancer cell lines and require adenovirus- or lentivirus-mediated expression of the Drosophila gene. The efficacy of Dmel\dnk in combination with anti-cancer drugs, most commonly gemcitabine, has been investigated in multiple studies.
[updated Aug. 2018 by FlyBase; FBrf0222196]
Mammals have several deoxyribonucleoside kinases with different specificities; Drosophila has one multisubstrate deoxyribonucleoside kinase, Dmel\dnk (FBrf0207706 and references cited therein).
Deoxyribonucleoside kinases (dNKs) phosphorylate deoxyribonucleosides to their corresponding monophosphate compounds; they also phosphorylate deoxyribonucleoside analogues that are used in the treatment of cancer or viral infections (Slot Christiansen et al., 2015; pubmed:26059771).
Compared to other known deoxyribonucleoside kinases, Drosophila Dmel\dnk has a broader substrate specificity and a higher catalytic rate (FBrf0212938 and references cited therein).
Drosophila multisubstrate deoxyribonucleoside kinase Dmel\dnk can sensitize human cancer cell lines to the anti-cancer drug gemcitabine.
