X-linked female-sterile loci in Drosophila melanogaster

Abstract

We have examined the number of X-linked loci specifically required only during oogenesis. Complementation analyses among female-sterile (fs) mutations obtained in two mutagenesis screens - GANS' and MOHLER'S - indicate that any fs locus represented by two or more mutant alleles in GANS' collection are usually present in MOHLER'S collection. However, when a locus is represented by a single allele in one collection, it is generally not present in the other collection. We propose that this discrepancy is due to the fact that most 'fs loci' represented by less than two mutant alleles are, in fact, vital (zygotic lethal) genes, and that the fs alleles are hypomorphic mutations of such genes. In support of this hypothesis we have identified lethal alleles at 12 of these 'fs loci'. The present analysis has possibly identified all maternal-effect lethal loci detectable by mutations on the X chromosome and has allowed us to reevaluate the number of 'ovary-specific fs' loci in the Drosophila genome. Finally, germline clone analysis of a large number of fs mutations was performed in order to estimate the relative contribution of germline and somatic cell derivatives to oogenesis and to embryonic development. All the maternal-effect lethal loci tested are germline-dependent.