Identification of a Novel Mutant of fat2 in Drosophila melanogaster

PurposeTo test the fertility of mutant MI3266, observing the morphologic variation of mutant MI3266 in reproductive system and identifying the gene inserted by MI3266.

MethodsGenetic crosses were used to examine the sterility of MI3266, including male and female of MI3266. Furthermore, the reproductive system of adult flies was dissected and stained with DAPI to observe the morphologic variation of reproductive system. Finally, the gene related to MI3266 was identified by inverse PCR.

ResultsMutant MI3266 was sterile, as was its female. The ovary of mutant was abnormal. Its egg chamber in stage 14 was spherical, and its dorsal appendages were dramatically short. The gene inserted by MI3266 was fat2.

ConclusionA new fat2 mutant was identified and its female flies were sterile, providing a new mutant for studying the function of fat2.