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Updated: Aug 10, 2026
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Published on: March 31, 2018
Characterization of a Drosophila melanogaster orthologue of muskelin
1MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK. adamsj@ccf.org
Abstract:
Muskelin was identified in vertebrates as a novel, intracellular, kelch repeat protein that is needed in cell-spreading responses to the matrix adhesion molecule, thrombospondin-1. The identification and characterization of an orthologue of muskelin in Drosophila melanogaster is now reported. The Drosophila muskelin gene, located on chromosome 2R, is encoded in ten exons. Drosophila muskelin is expressed in embryos, larvae and adult flies. The protein has 45% sequence identity to vertebrate muskelins, with highest sequence identity in an amino-terminal domain and the six kelch repeats that form a beta-propeller structure. Multiple sequence alignment of human, mouse, rat and Drosophila muskelins and protein database searches revealed a novel highly conserved motif within the amino-terminal domain, lissencephaly homology motif (LisH) and C-terminal to LisH motifs in the central region of the molecule, and several conserved consensus motifs for phosphorylation by protein kinase C and casein kinase II. These findings provide new information on the modular structure of muskelin and indicate potential for conserved mechanisms of function.
Insights
Researchers identified a Drosophila muskelin orthologue, a kelch repeat protein crucial for cell spreading. This discovery reveals conserved protein structures and potential functions across species, including novel motifs like LisH.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Muskelin is an intracellular kelch repeat protein identified in vertebrates.
- It plays a role in cell-spreading responses mediated by thrombospondin-1.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and characterize a muskelin orthologue in Drosophila melanogaster.
- To investigate the evolutionary conservation of muskelin structure and function.
Main Methods:
- Gene identification and characterization in Drosophila melanogaster.
- Sequence alignment and protein database searches.
- Analysis of conserved motifs and phosphorylation sites.
Main Results:
- A Drosophila muskelin gene was identified on chromosome 2R, encoded in ten exons.
- Drosophila muskelin shares 45% sequence identity with vertebrate muskelins, particularly in the N-terminal domain and kelch repeats.
- Novel conserved motifs, including the lissencephaly homology motif (LisH), and phosphorylation sites were identified.
Conclusions:
- The findings reveal a conserved modular structure of muskelin across vertebrates and Drosophila.
- Potential conserved mechanisms of muskelin function are indicated by the identified conserved motifs.
- This study provides insights into the evolutionary basis of muskelin function in cell adhesion and spreading.
