Identification and analysis of mutations in bob, Doa and eight new genes required for oocyte specification and development in Drosophila melanogaster.
The Drosophila oocyte develops from a cluster of 16 interconnected cells that derive from a common progenitor. One of these cells, the oocyte, arrests in meiosis. The other cells endoreplicate their DNA and produce mRNAs and proteins that they traffic to the oocyte along a polarized microtubule cytoskeleton shared by the entire cyst. Therefore, Drosophila oogenesis is an attractive system for the study of cell cycle control and cell polarity. We carried out a clonal screen on the right arm of chromosome 3 for female sterile mutations using the FLP-FRT-ovo(D) system to identify new genes required for early oogenesis. We identified alleles of oo18 RNA binding protein (orb) and Darkener of apricot (Doa), which had previously been shown to exhibit oogenesis defects. We also identified several lethal alleles of the male sterile mutant, bobble (bob). In addition, we identified eight new lethal complementation groups that exhibit early oogenesis phenotypes. We analyzed mutant clones to determine the aspects of oogenesis disrupted by each complementation group. We assayed for the production and development of egg chambers, localization of ORB to and within the oocyte, and proper execution of the nurse cell cycle (endoreplication of DNA) and the oocyte cell cycle (karyosome formation). Here we discuss the identification, mapping, and phenotypic characterization of these new genes: omelet, soft boiled, hard boiled, poached, fried, over easy, sunny side up, and benedict.
Morris
Jason Z
JZ
Developmental Genetics Program, The Skirball Institute and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, NYU School of Medicine, 540 First Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA.
Navarro
Caryn
C
Lehmann
Ruth
R
D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D017344:Genes, Insect; D005804:Genes, Lethal; D005816:Genetic Complementation Test; D006720:Homozygote; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000235:genetics; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000235:genetics; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009154:Mutation; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D009866:Oogenesis / Q000235:genetics*; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D015415:Biomarkers; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D019476:Insect Proteins; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; C089932:orb protein, Drosophila; C089977:Doa protein, Drosophila; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases