Lab Bites">Lab Bites

Wired Magazine was running a vote for the Funniest Protein Names. Here are some of the top ones (yes, they can be found recorded on NCBI), most of which were identified in the fruit fly:


Pikachurin: An extracellular matrix-like retinal protein named unsurprisingly by a Japanese researcher.

Coitus Interruptus: A protein found in fruit fly male mutants who copulate for 12 minutes, rather than the usual 20.

Fear of Intimacy: In Fear of Intimacy mutants, gonad coalescence is affected during embryogenesis.

Sonic Hedgehog: Named after a video game character, it shepherds the proper development of organs.


Tequila: A protein that helps forms memories!



Lunatic Fringe: ...Would you want to know?

Dunce: Flies lacking this protein have a learning deficiency.

Slicer and Dicer: When a gene must be silenced, these enzymes whack RNA molecules and make it look like an accident.

R2D2: This machine binds exogenous dsRNA that stimulates dicer activity.




Glass Bottom Boat: GBB mutants have a phenotype that resulted in a clear larvae, and GBB was also observed to mirror the expression of decepentatpleigic (dpp).