Primary sequence and developmental expression of a novel Drosophila melanogaster src gene

We have sequenced a cDNA clone for the Drosophila melanogaster gene Dsrc28C, a homolog of the vertebrate gene c-src. The cDNA contains a single open reading frame encoding a protein of 66 kilodaltons which contains features highly conserved within the src family of tyrosine protein kinases. Novel structural features of the Dsrc28C protein include a basic pI and a polyglycine domain near the amino terminus. Cell-free translation of in vitro-transcribed RNA yielded a protein of the predicted size which could be immunoprecipitated by anti-v-src antisera. RNA blot hybridization revealed that the gene is expressed predominantly during embryogenesis, in imaginal disks of third-instar larvae, and in adult females. In situ hybridization showed that expression in adult females is largely confined to nurse cells and developing oocytes.