High impact information on ben

• We show that the ben gene encodes a protein which is closely related to ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes and that a missense mutation in the highly conserved active site region is associated with the ben mutation [1].
• bendless, a Drosophila gene affecting neuronal connectivity, encodes a ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme homolog [2].
• A closer examination of the ben phenotype suggests that ben activity is broader and affects a variety of other neurons including photoreceptor cells and their axons [2].
• The major role of ubiquitination in the protein degradative pathway suggests that ben regulates neural developmental processes such as growth cone guidance by targeting specific proteins for degradation [2].
• One mutation, bendless, disrupts synaptic transmission between the GF and the TTM motor neuron [3].

Biological context of ben

• bendless- (ben-) is an X chromosome mutation in Drosophila melanogaster, known to alter patterns of connections in the CNS and thus modify behavior (Thomas and Wyman, 1984) [4].
• The amino acid sequence showed 80% identity with the Drosophila's bendless gene product (ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2) [5].

Other interactions of ben

• We have cloned the ben gene through a chromosomal walk and show that it is homologous to a class of ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes [2].
• In a vicinity of 12E Stellate cluster the undamaged, recently originated euchromatic Stellate orphon was found at 12D, providing the poly(A) signal for the bendless gene [6].

References