Bicaudal-D is essential for egg chamber formation and cytoskeletal organization in Drosophila oogenesis

Bicaudal-D (Bic-D) is required for the transport of determinant mRNAs and proteins to the presumptive oocyte, an essential step in the differentiation of the oocyte. Bic-D protein contains four well-defined heptad repeat domains characteristic of intermediate filament proteins. We characterized the ovarian phenotypes of females expressing mutant Bic-D proteins (Bic-D-H) deleted for each of the heptad repeat domains. The altered migration of follicle cells we observe in mutant ovaries suggests that Bic-D functions in the germline and directs the inward migration of somatic follicle cells. In the germarium Bic-D is required for the organization of the egg chamber and the structural integrity of the oocyte and nurse cells. Examination of the polarized microtubule network in Bic-D-H ovaries shows that Bic-D function is required for both the establishment of the polarized microtubule network and its maintenance throughout oogenesis. To explain the multiple functions suggested by the pleiotropic Bic-D phenotype, we propose that Bic-D protein could form itself a filamentous structure and represent an integral, essential part of the cytoskeleton. (C) 2001 Academic Press.