The Drosophila Ste20 family kinase dMST functions as a tumor suppressor by restricting cell proliferation and promoting apoptosis

• Published in: Genes & development Vol. 17; no. 20; pp. 2514 - 2519
• Main Authors: Jia, Jianhang, Zhang, Wensheng, Wang, Bing, Trinko, Richard, Jiang, Jin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press 15.10.2003
• Subjects: Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Apoptosis - physiology; Cell Division - physiology; Cloning, Molecular; DIAP1 gene; Drosophila; Drosophila - enzymology; Drosophila - genetics; Eye - pathology; Molecular Sequence Data; MST1 gene; MST2 gene; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases - genetics; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases - metabolism; Research Communications; Ste20 protein; Tumor Suppressor Proteins - metabolism
• ISSN: 0890-9369; 1549-5477
• DOI: 10.1101/gad.1134003

In a genetic screen for mutations that restrict cell growth and organ size, we identified a new tumor suppressor gene, dMST, which encodes the Drosophila homolog of the mammalian Ste20 kinase family members MST1 and MST2. Loss-of-function mutations in dMST result in overgrown tissues containing more cells of normal size. dMST mutant cells exhibit elevated levels of Cyclin E and DIAP1, increased cell growth and proliferation, and impaired apoptosis. dMST forms a complex with Sav and Wts, two tumor suppressors also implicated in regulating both cell proliferation and apoptosis, suggesting that they act in common pathways.