KINESIN-73 IN THE NERVOUS-SYSTEM OF DROSOPHILA EMBRYOS

Kinesin-73 cDNA was shown to encode a kinesin heavy chain protein that contains an N-terminal motor domain and a long central region that la cks extensive coiled-coils, The amino acid sequence of the motor domai n of kinesin-73 protein is most closely related to the motor domains o f Caenorhabditis elegans unc-104 and mouse KIF1A, The central region o f kinesin-73 protein also is related to unc-104 and KIF1A, but the hom ology is lower than that of the motor domain, The C-terminal region of kinesin-73 protein contains a cytoskeleton associated protein Gly-ric h domain, which is a putative microtubule binding site that is present in some cytoskeleton or dynein-associated proteins, Kinesin-73 mRNA w as shown by in situ hybridization to be maternally expressed and widel y distributed in the syncytial blastoderm embryo, However, later in Dr osophila embryo development, expression of the kinesin-73 gene becomes restricted mostly to the central and peripheral nervous systems.