Cloning and expression of mars, a novel member of the guanylate kinase associated protein family in Drosophila

The Membrane-Associated Guanylate Kinase (MAGUK) family of anchor proteins are involved in organising a range of molecules such as cell adhesion molecules, receptors, and intracellular signalling molecules at cell junctions. In mammals, the PSD-95/SAP-90/hDlg class of MAGUK proteins bind to a family of Guanylate Kinase Associated Proteins (GKAPs) that have been found at presumptive synaptic sites in neurons. Here we describe the identification of Mars, a novel Drosophila protein belonging to the GKAP family. RT-PCR analysis reveals that Drosophila mars mRNA and protein are predominantly expressed in embryos and in the adult germline. In embryos, mars is expressed in central nervous system and brain, as determined by RNA in situ hybridisation. In testes, mars is strongly expressed in pre-meiotic germ cells, but is not found in somatic or post-meiotic cells, indicating that in addition to their role in neuronal cells, GKAP proteins are also likely to play a role in germline development.