High impact information on unc-116

• The C. elegans unc-104 gene encodes a putative kinesin heavy chain-like protein [1].
• Although the primary sequence relatedness to kinesin is weak in the remainder of the molecule, the predicted secondary structure and regional isoelectric points are similar to kinesin heavy chain [1].
• An additional genetic locus in Caenorhabditis elegans, unc-116, was identified in a screen for mutations resulting in defective locomotion. unc-116 was cloned by use of a transposon insertion mutant and the physical and genetic map of the genome [2].
• Cloning by insertional mutagenesis of a cDNA encoding Caenorhabditis elegans kinesin heavy chain [2].
• DNA sequencing of the transforming 4.3 kb fragment revealed a kinesin heavy chain-like protein, which contains conserved ATPase and microtubule binding domains [3].

Biological context of unc-116

• DNA sequence analysis of unc-104 cDNAs revealed an open reading frame capable of encoding a 1584 amino acid protein with similarities to kinesin heavy chain [1].

References