IDENTIFICATION OF A NOVEL DROSOPHILA-MELANOGASTER HEAT-SHOCK GENE, LETHAL(2)DENTICLELESS [L(2)DTL], CODING FOR AN 83-KDA PROTEIN

In this study, we describe the identification of a novel Drosophila me lanogaster. (Dm) gene, l(2)dtl, characterized by elevated expression u nder heat-shock (HS) conditions. It encodes a protein of 83 kDa with n o homology to known members of the HSP90 family and other proteins. Ge ne l(2)dtl is located on the right arm of the second chromosome at loc us 59F5, close to the tumor suppressor gene l(2)tid, a homolog of the dnaJ encoding a chaperone strongly conserved in evolution. In the foll owing, we present the sequence of l(2)dtl, the putative protein it enc odes, and its molecular localization in a closely interspaced gene clu ster consisting of at least four nested genes spanning an approximatel y 10-kb genomic interval. Furthermore, we present the temporal express ion of l(2)dtl in the wild type under normal and HS conditions, and de scribe the isolation and the phenotype of eight embryonic lethal l(2)d tl mutants.