CLONING BY FUNCTIONAL COMPLEMENTATION OF A MOUSE CDNA-ENCODING A HOMOLOG OF CDC25, A SACCHAROMYCES-CEREVISIAE RAS ACTIVATOR

In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae genetic and biochemical evidence indicates that the product of the CDC25 gene activates the RAS/adenylyl cyclase/protein kinase A pathway by acting as a guanine nucleotide protein. Here we report the isolation of a mouse brain cDNA homologous to CDC25. The mouse cDNA, called CDC25Mm, complements specifically point mutations and deletion/disruptions of the CDC25 gene. In addition, it restores the cAMP levels and CDC25-dependent glucose-induced cAMP signalling in a yeast strain bearing a disruption of the CDC25 gene. The CDC25Mm-encoded protein is 34% identical with the catalytic carboxy terminal part of the CDC-25 protein and shares significant homology with other proteins belonging to the same family. The protein encoded by CDC25Mm, prepared as a glutathione S-transferase fusion in Escherichia coli cells, activates adenylyl cyclase in yeast membranes in a RAS2-dependent manner. Northern blot analysis of mouse brain poly(A)+ RNA reveals two major transcripts of approximately 1700 and 5200 nucleotides. Transcripts were found also in mouse heart and at a lower level in liver and spleen.