The Ser+r83k mutation is a second site mutation of SerD affecting the N-terminus of serrate

• Published in: Genesis (New York, N.Y. : 2000) Vol. 39; no. 1; pp. 42 - 51
• Main Authors: Trang, Tung T., Tannous, Vera, Gu, Yi, Mosher, Jessica, Fleming, Robert J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01-05-2004
• Subjects: Drosophila melanogaster; Notch pathway; Serrate; wing development
• ISSN: 1526-954X; 1526-968X
• DOI: 10.1002/gene.20024

The Serrate gene encodes an essential ligand for Notch signaling used during development of the adult wing and other systems in Drosophila melanogaster. Animals heterozygous or homozygous for the SerD allele of this gene display characteristic defects in wing margin formation. We have characterized a spontaneously arising intragenic suppressor of SerD named Ser+r83k. Homozygous double mutant Ser+r83k, SerD animals are viable, with normal wing margin formation, but display an aberrant outspread wing posture. The two mutations can be separated by meiotic recombination which restores the SerD mutant phenotype and demonstrates that in the absence of SerD the Ser+r83k mutation is homozygous lethal. These two mutations therefore display allelic compensation. Molecular analysis reveals a single C‐T transition mutation within the 5′ (protein encoding region) of the Ser+r83k transcript. This mutation is predicted to change Arginine176 to Cysteine, possibly leading to altered interactions with the Notch receptor. genesis 39:42–51, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.