Student Scholars Day

Characterization of Pkn^dlnΔ5, a Derivative Allele of the Delorean Mutation Associated with the Protein Kinase N Gene in Drosophila melanogaster

Kirkhof Center KC54

Wings of Drosophila melanogaster that are homozygous for the delorean mutation (Pkn^dln) are held out and arched downward in contrast to the closely held, flat wings of the wild type. The delorean mutation is the result of a P-element that inserted into the first intron of the Protein kinase N (Pkn) gene. To understand the molecular basis of the delorean phenotype we have generated a deletion derivative of the Pkn^dln allele, Pkn^dlnΔ5. Flies that are homozygous for this derivative show distinct differences in phenotype severity from Pkn^dln; the wings are less severe whereas fertility defects are more severe. In addition, Pkn^dlnΔ5demonstrates that the delorean phenotype is transvection-dependent. The molecular lesion associated with the Pkn^dlnΔ5allele is the loss of mini-white+ gene sequence from within the associated P-element. We present our analysis of the Pkn^dlnΔ5derivative with respect to the role of the Pkn gene in wing morphogenesis as well as its prospective role in oogenesis.