Event Title
The Maternal Effect Phenotype of Delorean in Drosophila melanogaster
Presentation Type
Poster/Portfolio
Presenter Major(s)
Cell and Molecular Biology
Mentor Information
Georgette Sass
Department
Biology
Location
Henry Hall Atrium 82
Start Date
10-4-2013 10:00 AM
End Date
10-4-2013 11:00 AM
Keywords
Life Science
Abstract
The delorean allele is a gain-of-function mutation in Drosophila melanogaster that is caused by a transposon insertion in the first intron of the Protein kinase N (pkn) gene. It is known that the pkn gene in Drosophila melanogaster is required in embryonic development during the process of dorsal closure, establishing this kinase as a requirement for developing embryos. The dorsal closure phenotype is rescued when the normal PKN protein is supplied to mutant flies. Here, we study the role of pkn in oogenesis. Using the Dominant Female Sterile Flipase Recombinant Technique (DFS-FRT) germline, homozygous delorean clones were generated to quantify the maternal-effect phenotype. We establish pkn as a maternal-effect phenotype where females exhibit effective sterility due to a significant reduction in egg production. The eggs produced by delorean germline clones are either not fertilizable or if fertilized, generate embryos that fail to complete embryogenesis.
The Maternal Effect Phenotype of Delorean in Drosophila melanogaster
Henry Hall Atrium 82
The delorean allele is a gain-of-function mutation in Drosophila melanogaster that is caused by a transposon insertion in the first intron of the Protein kinase N (pkn) gene. It is known that the pkn gene in Drosophila melanogaster is required in embryonic development during the process of dorsal closure, establishing this kinase as a requirement for developing embryos. The dorsal closure phenotype is rescued when the normal PKN protein is supplied to mutant flies. Here, we study the role of pkn in oogenesis. Using the Dominant Female Sterile Flipase Recombinant Technique (DFS-FRT) germline, homozygous delorean clones were generated to quantify the maternal-effect phenotype. We establish pkn as a maternal-effect phenotype where females exhibit effective sterility due to a significant reduction in egg production. The eggs produced by delorean germline clones are either not fertilizable or if fertilized, generate embryos that fail to complete embryogenesis.