JIL-1: A Novel Chromosomal Tandem Kinase Implicated in Transcriptional Regulation in Drosophila

• Published in: Molecular cell 1999-07, Vol.4 (1), p.129-135
• Main Authors: Jin, Ye, Wang, Yanming, Walker, Diana L, Dong, Hao, Conley, Cherice, Johansen, Jørgen, Johansen, Kristen M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Animals, Genetically Modified; Cell Cycle; Chromatin - chemistry; Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone - chemistry; Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone - genetics; Cloning, Molecular; Drosophila; Drosophila - embryology; Drosophila - enzymology; Gene Expression Regulation; Histones - metabolism; Humans; Insect Proteins - chemistry; Insect Proteins - genetics; Male; Molecular Sequence Data; Phylogeny; Protein Kinases - chemistry; Protein Kinases - genetics; Salivary Glands - enzymology; X Chromosome - genetics
• ISSN: 1097-2765; 1097-4164; 1097-4164
• DOI: 10.1016/S1097-2765(00)80195-1

We have cloned and characterized JIL-1, a novel tandem kinase in Drosophila that associates with the chromosomes throughout the cell cycle. Antibody staining and live imaging of JIL-1-GFP transgenic flies show that JIL-1 localizes to the gene-rich interband regions of larval polytene chromosomes and is upregulated almost 2-fold on the hypertranscribed male X chromosome compared to autosomes. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that JIL-1 together with human MSKs defines a separate family of tandem kinases. That JIL-1 is a functional kinase was demonstrated by autophosphorylation and phosphorylation of histone H3 in vitro. Based on these findings, we propose that JIL-1 may play a role in transcriptional control potentially by regulating chromatin structure.