Mps One Binder Kinase Activator Like Protein 1B (MOBKL1B)

Lai et al. (2005) identified a Drosophila protein belonging to the Mob1 superfamily that they termed Mats (Mob as tumor suppressor). By database analysis, they identified 2 human orthologs, MOBKL1B and MOBKL1A , which they named MATS1 and MATS2, respectively. The MATS1 protein contains 216 amino acids and shares 87% identity with Drosophila Mats. Lai et al. (2005) described the growth inhibitory functions of Drosophila Mats. Loss of Mats function resulted in increased cell proliferation, defective apoptosis, and induction of tissue overgrowth. Mats physically associated with Lats/Wts kinase (LATS1) and stimulated its catalytic activity, and this function was conserved in human MATS1. Furthermore, human MATS1 could rescue the lethality associated with loss of Mats function in Drosophila.