Subject: MdaPK gene may = gek gene (?)
The FlyBase report for the gene MdaPk describes it as having a
putative molecular function as a protein serine/threonine kinase, as
inferred from sequence similarity. Its location at 60B10-11 is based
on the in situ hybridization position of the P element insertion in
l(2)09373, which is the only known mutant allele. The two flanking
sequences, which were recovered by inverse PCR with primers for the
two ends of l(2)09373, map to different sites on the genome sequence,
approximately 16 kb apart. The 3' flank maps very near the annotated
5' end of the gek gene. The FlyBase report for the gek gene also
lists it as having a putative molecular function as a protein
serine/threonine kinase, as inferred from sequence similarity. Its
estimated cytogenetic location is 60B4-5. The 5' flank of l(2)09373
maps to a site between the 5' ends of the divergently transcribed
genes CG4049 and CG3253. Neither of these genes has sequence
similarity to a protein kinase. Looking over this information, it
strikes me that MdaPk is probably the same gene as gek. The separate
map positions of the two flanks of l(2)09373 suggest the possibility
of two insertions 16 kb apart or a 16 kb deletion. Recessive lethal
alleles of gek have been described. However, one cannot be certain
without further testing whether the lethality of l(2)09373 is
associated with the insertion/breakpoint adjacent to gek or between
CG4049 and CG3253.
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Robert W. Levis, Ph.D.
Carnegie Institution of Washington
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