misshapen encodes a protein kinase involved in cell shape control in Drosophila

We have identified a novel protein kinase encoded by the misshapen gene, which is required for the normal shape and orientation of Drosophila photoreceptor cells. misshapen is also expressed in the embryonic mesoderm, pole plasm and other sites of cell shape change or movement. We propose that msn may act in a signal transduction pathway leading to cytoskeletal re-arrangements.