Development Genes and Evolution

Nüsslein-Volhard, C.; Wieschaus, E.; Kluding, H.

doi: 10.1007/BF00848156pmid: 28305337

In a search for embryonic lethal mutants on the second chromosome ofDrosophila melanogaster, 5764 balanced lines isogenic for an ethyl methane sulfonate (EMS)-treatedcn bw sp chromosome were established. Of these lines, 4217 carried one or more newly induced lethal mutations corresponding to a total of 7600 lethal hits. Eggs were collected from lethal-bearing lines and unhatched embryos from the lines in which 25% or more of the embryos did not hatch (2843 lines) were dechorionated, fixed, cleared and scored under the compound microscope for abnormalities of the larval cuticle. A total of 272 mutants were isolated with phenotypes unequivocally distinguishable from wild-type embryos on the basis of the cuticular pattern. In complementation tests performed between mutants with similar phenotype, 48 loci were identified by more than one allele, the average being 5.4 alleles per locus. Complementation of all other mutants was shown by 13 mutants. Members of the complementation groups were mapped by recombination analysis. No clustering of loci with similar phenotypes was apparent. From the distribution of the allele frequencies and the rate of discovery of new loci, it was estimated that the 61 loci represent the majority of embryonic lethal loci on the second chromosome yielding phenotypes recognizable in the larval cuticle.

Jürgens, G.; Wieschaus, E.; Nüsslein-Volhard, C.; Kluding, H.

doi: 10.1007/BF00848157pmid: 28305338

The present report describes the recovery and genetic characterization of mutant alleles at zygotic loci on the third chromosome ofDrosophila melanogaster which alter the morphology of the larval cuticle. We derived 12600 single lines from ethyl methane sulfonate (EMS)-treatedst e orrucuca chromosomes and assayed them for embryonic lethal mutations by estimating hatch rates of egg collections. About 7100 of these lines yielded at least a quarter of unhatched eggs and were then scored for embryonic phenotypes. Through microscopic examination of unhatched eggs 1772 lines corresponding to 24% of all lethal hits were classified as embryonic lethal. In 198 lines (2.7% of all lethal hits), mutant embryos showed distinct abnormalities of the larval cuticle. These embryonic visible mutants define 45 loci by complementation analysis. For 32 loci, more than one mutant allele was recovered, with an average of 5.8 alleles per locus. Complementation of all other mutants was shown by 13 mutants. The genes were localized on the genetic map by recombination analysis, as well as cytologically by complementation analysis with deficiencies. They appear to be randomly distributed along the chromosome. Allele frequencies and comparisons with deficiency phenotypes indicate that the 45 loci represent most, if not all, zygotic loci on the third chromosome, where lack of function recognizably affects the morphology of the larval cuticle.

Wieschaus, E.; Nüsslein-Volhard, C.; Jürgens, Gerd

doi: 10.1007/BF00848158pmid: 28305339

In order to identify X-chromosomal genes required inDrosophila for early patterning and morphogenesis, we examined embryos hemizygous for EMS-induced lethal mutations to determine which of those mutations cause gross morphological defects. Embryos from 2711 lethal lines, corresponding to 3255 lethal point mutations were studied. Only 21% caused death during embryogenesis and of these, only one-sixth, or 3% of the total lethals, were associated with defects visible in the final cuticle pattern. Of the 114 point mutants causing visible cuticle defects, 76 could be assigned to 14 complementation groups. An additional 25 mutations mapping to regions of the X-chromosome not covered by male fertile duplications were assigned to six complementation groups based on similarities of map position and phenotype. Thirteen mutations could not be assigned to complementation groups. All mutations allowed normal development through the cellular blastoderm stage, the first defects associated with the earliest acting loci being observed shortly after the onset of gastrulation. The phenotypes of the various loci range from alterations in segment pattern or early morphogenetic movements to defects in final pigmentation and denticle morphology.

Hartenstein, Volker; Campos-Ortega, Jose

doi: 10.1007/BF00848159pmid: 28305340

This paper deals with morphological aspects of early neurogenesis inDrosophila, in particular with the segregation of neuroblasts from the neurogenic region of the ectoderm and the pattern formed by those wells within both the germ band and the procephalic lobe. The neurogenic ectoderm was found to contain neural precursors intermingled with epidermal precursors, extending from the midline up to the primordia of the tracheal tree along the germ band and laterodorsally in the procephalic lobe. Germ band neuroblasts segregate from the neurogenic ectoderm during a period of several hours according to characteristic spatial and temporal patterns. During the first half of the segregation process the pattern of germ band neuroblasts was found to be the same in different animals in both spatial arrangement and number of cells; this permitted the identification of individual neuroblasts from different embryos. Later in development several difficulties were encountered which precluded an exact description of the neuroblast pattern. The constitution of the neurogenic region is discussed in relation to the phenotype of mutants affecting neurogenesis.

Meer, Jitse; Miyamoto, David

doi: 10.1007/BF00848160pmid: 28305341

Mechanically dividing an insect egg into anterior and posterior fragments results in a segment gap (Sander 1976), a loss of non-terminal segments in the constricted region. By altering the stage and duration of constriction, we produced different types of egg fragments in the pea beetleCallosobruchus. The patterns formed by these fragments suggest the existence of interactions between anterior and posterior egg regions that influence segment patterning and placement. Segments in excess of the numbers expected on the basis of permanent constrictions were produced in fragments when: (1) the constriction was released before cellularization occurred and (2) in addition the complementary fragment degenerated. Apparently the degenerating fragment induced the formation of excess segments in the developing fragment. Differences in the time and extent of excess segment formation in anterior versus posterior fragments suggest an asymmetric distribution of prerequisites for segment formation. This conclusion is consistent with our finding that a partial reversal of segment sequence (double abdomen formation) can be induced only in posterior fragments by a degenerating fragment, but not in anterior fragments (see companion paper).The formation of excess segments shows that the segment gap observed after permanent separation cannot be due to non-specific damage, caused by the process of constriction as such, to the egg or to localized putative segment precursors.

Meer, Jitse

doi: 10.1007/BF00848161pmid: 28305342

The “double abdomen” type of embryonic segment pattern can develop in posterior fragments ofCallosobruchus eggs. In this type of pattern, a series of posterior segments is joined in reversed polarity to an equal set from the original pattern persisting in normal polarity. Reversed and non-reversed sets are fused in a plane of mirror symmetry, which shows in the larval cuticle as a “symmetry line”. This line may be located anywhere in the posterior thorax or the anterior abdomen. The reversed abdomen may be incomplete caudally due to secondary causes. Polarity reversal and concomitant double abdomen formation occurred only when temporary constriction was terminated before cellularization of the blastoderm, and only when the anterior fragment was degenerating. Maximum reversal frequency was 94% of analyzable posterior partial larvae when the constriction was applied slightly anterior to the middle of the egg when the egg contained 4–32 nuclei. Reversal was often restricted to longitudinal strips of the larval cuticle. The longitudinal borderlines between the reversed and the non-reversed strips ran predominantly along the larval midlines. Such borderlines probably existed in the blastoderm anywhere around its circumference, but borderlines in the future mesoderm and serosa would be internalized during gastrulation and dorsal closure, respectively, and the embryonic midlines would then become secondary borderlines visible in the larval cuticle. If a morphogen is involved in segment pattern formation, its transport in the egg must be polarized longitudinally in order to account for reversals restricted to longitudinal cuticular strips.