Sex‐specific transcripts of the Dstpk61 serine/threonine kinase gene in Drosophila melanogaster

Abstract

We describe the characterization of several transcripts of the Drosophila serine/threonine protein kinase 61 (Dstpk61) gene. Dstpk61 produces at least four transcripts, including a 3.0-kb testis-specific transcript, a 4.5-kb female-specific carcass transcript, a 3.5-kb ovary-specific transcript, and a 4.7-kb non-sex-specific transcript. Two cDNAs, a 4.5-kb cDNA (cDNA B ) and a 3.0-kb cDNA (cDNA A ), likely to correspond to either the non-specific or the female-specific carcass and the testis-specific transcript, respectively, were fully sequenced and found to encode a novel OPA-repeat-containing serine/threonine-specific protein kinase. cDNA A and cDNA B both contain the entire ORF that encodes this predicted protein, but differ in the untranslated regions. The cDNAs contain translational control elements which are found in transcripts under male germline-specific translational control, and doublesexlike 13-nucleotide repeat elements, which are required for transformer/transformer-2-mediated splicing of the female doublesex transcript. The complex tissue and sex-specific transcripts, differing in the untranslated regions which are likely to be crucial in translational control, suggest that this kinase may have both general and sex-specific functions. The protein is homologous to human 3-phosphoinositide dependent protein kinase, which is involved in transduction of insulin signalling.

PDK1 regulates growth through Akt and S6K in Drosophila

“…The PCR products were sequenced and analyzed with SEQUENCHER software for the appearance of double peaks in the sequence chromatogram, and compared with the published sequence (21). The nucleotide changes are: dPDK1 3 (GGT3AGT), dPDK1 4 (CCG3CTG), dPDK1 5 (CAG3TAG).…”

The Dstpk61 locus of Drosophila produces multiple transcripts and protein isoforms, suggesting it is involved in multiple signalling pathways

“…Exon 1b is located approximately 3 kb upstream of exon 1a. We have previously reported the sequence of LD19940 (EST40), which we believe to be a female-specific carcass transcript (MacDougall et al 1999). A further two Group 2 cDNAs have now been sequenced, LD02269 (EST69) and GM04058 (EST58).…”

“…We have previously reported the presence of at least four different Dstpk61 transcripts: a common transcript; a female-specific carcass transcript; an ovary-specific transcript; and a testis-specific transcript (MacDougall et al 1999). We also reported the sequence of three different cDNAs, one of which (EST40) is thought to represent the female-specific carcass transcript (MacDougall et al 1999). This paper looks in detail at the different variants of RNA and protein generated by this gene in Drosophila and identifies some very intriguing results.…”

“…1Ai). This group contains LD16509 (EST09), which we have previously sequenced and published (MacDougall et al 1999). EST09 is thought to be a more complete version of cDNA B .…”

“…A further two Group 2 cDNAs have now been sequenced, LD02269 (EST69) and GM04058 (EST58). EST69 is thought to represent the alternatively spliced non-sex-specific carcass transcript reported in MacDougall et al (1999).…”