Extracellular adenosine is an important drosophila growth regulator

We found a group of 6 related Drosophila proteins, named ADGF-A,-A2,-B,-C,-D,-E, similar to the enzyme adenosine deaminase. ADGFs have strong adenosine deaminase activity and they are also involved in the regulation of mitosis. They require their enzymatic function for the mitogenic activity. We proved that ADGFs function by modulating the level of extracellular adenosine. Closely related human protein CECR1 has been identified and it is implicated in the genetic diseases Cat-Eye Syndrome and DiGeorge Syndrome. The research on Drosophila ADGFs helps to explain the mechanism of those severe genetic human diseases.