JIL-1, a chromosomal kinase implicated in regulation of chromatin structure, associates with the male specific lethal (MSL) dosage compensation complex

JIL-1 is a novel chromosomal kinase that is upregulated almost twofold on t he male X chromosome in Drosophila. Here we demonstrate that JIL-1 colocali zes and physically interacts with male specific lethal (MSL) dosage compens ation complex proteins. Furthermore, ectopic expression of the MSL complex directed by MSL2 in females causes a concomitant upregulation of JIL-1 to t he female X that is abolished in msl mutants unable to assemble the complex . Thus, these results strongly indicate JIL-1 associates with the MSL compl ex and further suggests JIL-1 functions in signal transduction pathways reg ulating chromatin structure.