Kinase activity and genetic characterization of a growth related antigen of Drosophila

The Drosophila developmental antigen recognized by the monoclonal antibody F7D6 is expressed in dividing embryonic and imaginal cells but is lost from all differentiating tissues except electrogenic cells of the nervous system and spontaneously contracting muscles. The 63 kDa antigen is associated with the inner surface of plasma membranes and is expressed in several classes of tumorous mutants of Drosophila. The monoclonal antibody was used for immunoprecipitating the antigen for biochemical characterization and for screening expression vector cDNA libraries. Here we report that this oncodevelopmental antigen is a phosphoprotein and a serine-threonine specific protein kinase. A 1.6 kb cDNA isolated by immunological screening of an ovarian library hybridized to a single band on polytene chromosomes, localizing the gene to 72F on the left arm of the third chromosome. Immunofluorescence assays of deficiency stocks in the region confirmed the location of the gene and identity of the cDNA clone, and mapped the gene between the left breakpoints of Df(3L) st100.62 and Df(3L) stj7, i.e., between 72F3-7 and 73A1-2. The biochemical and genetic properties indicate that this is a novel growth-related kinase of Drosophila.