Sequence and expression of DmMKLP1, a homolog of the human MKLP1 kinesin-like protein from Drosophila melanogaster

 We have isolated the Drosophila gene DmMKLP1, which has a high similarity to members of the mitotic kinesin-like subfamily of kinesin proteins. DmMKLP1 has no known close relatives in the Drosophila genome and can therefore be assumed to be the ortholog of human MKLP1 and hamster CHOI kinesin-like proteins. In situ hybridization reveals a homogeneous maternal expression in the early embryo and a terminally restricted expression pattern at blastoderm stage. Later, the expression becomes increasingly restricted to the developing central nervous system, where it remains expressed at least until the end of embryogenesis.