Morewright (mwr), a new meiotic mutant of Drosophila melanogaster affecting nonexchange chromosome segregation

Genetics. 1996 Dec;144(4):1725-34. doi: 10.1093/genetics/144.4.1725.

Abstract

A new meiotic mutation, morewright (mwr) was identified by screening for new mutations that act as dominant enhancers of the dosage-sensitive Drosophila melanogaster female meiotic mutant, nodDTW.mwr is a recessive meiotic mutant, specifically impairing the segregation of nonexchange chromosomes. Cytological evidence suggests that the meiotic defect in mwr/mwr females is in homologue recognition because the chromosomes appear to be misaligned on an intact spindle. The mwr mutation was recovered during a screen of random P-element insertions on a chromosome with a single insertion located at 50C. The P-element insertion is a recessive female-sterile mutation. While excision of the P element from the mwr-bearing chromosome partially relieves the female sterility, the excisions retain the dominant nodDTW-enhancing activity. The mwr meiotic phenotype maps very close to the female-sterile P insertion. Thus the mwr locus appears to encode a function required for partner recognition in meiosis, although its relationship to the neighboring female-sterile mutation remains to be elucidated.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Chromosome Mapping
  • DNA Transposable Elements / genetics
  • Drosophila melanogaster / genetics*
  • Female
  • Genes, Insect*
  • Insect Proteins / genetics*
  • Meiosis / genetics
  • Mutation*
  • Recombination, Genetic

Substances

  • DNA Transposable Elements
  • Insect Proteins